Final answer:
The formula for specific heat capacity calculation is q = mcΔT, which explains how the heat energy needed to change the temperature of a substance is dependent on the mass, the specific heat capacity, and the temperature change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating the specific heat capacity of a substance can be understood through the relationship between the amount of heat energy absorbed or released by a substance and the resulting change in temperature. The key formula for computing specific heat capacity, particularly in a physics context, is q = mcΔT, where 'q' is the heat in joules, 'm' is the mass in kilograms, 'c' is the specific heat capacity in J/kg/°C, and 'ΔT' is the change in temperature in Celsius. This relationship means that the amount of heat energy (q) that is needed to change the temperature of a given mass (m) of a substance is directly proportional to the temperature change and the specific heat capacity of the substance.
For example, if we wanted to calculate the amount of energy needed to heat a 30 kg piece of furniture by 8°C, we would use the given specific heat capacity value and apply the formula: multiplying the specific heat capacity by the mass and the temperature change. This gives us the total energy required for the heating process. The same approach can be adapted to measure other quantities, like the amount of heat lost when a substance cools down, by rearranging the formula to solve for different variables. It is also valuable to note that specific heat capacities can vary for substances in different states (solid, liquid, gas), and additional considerations may apply when dealing with ideal gases or when there are volume or pressure changes.