Final answer:
The 'c' in the specific heat equation stands for specific heat, which is the heat energy required to raise 1 gram of a substance by 1°C. Thermal energy reflects the total heat content, while specific heat is a property that represents how much energy is needed for a temperature change in a substance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of heat energy present in any substance is expressed as its thermal energy. This relates to the question about the specific heat equation, in which 'c' stands for specific heat. Specific heat is defined as the heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C (or 1K). It is an intensive property that depends on the temperature and composition of the substance, and it is typically reported in units such as cal/g°C or cal/g K.
Heat capacity is related but different; it is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of an object by 1°C. This often involves more mass than 1 gram and is not specific to a kind of substance. The specific heat of a substance is crucial in calculations involving heat transfer, as it determines how much energy is needed to change the temperature of a certain amount of substance by a specific degree.