Step-by-step explanation:
C=Q/M*T
Calculate specific heat as c = Q / (mΔT).

Specific Heat Calculator
Specific Heat Calculator
Created by Bogna Szyk
Reviewed by Steven Wooding
Last updated: Mar 26, 2022
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Find out how much heat is required to warm up a sample with the specific heat calculator.

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Table of contents:
How to calculate specific heat
Heat capacity formula
Typical values of specific heat
FAQ
This specific heat calculator is a tool that determines the heat capacity of a heated or a cooled sample. Specific heat is the amount of thermal energy you need to supply to a sample weighing 1 kg to increase its temperature by 1 K. Read on to learn how to apply the heat capacity formula correctly to obtain a valid result.
This calculator works in various ways, so you can also use it to, for example, calculate the heat needed to cause a temperature change (if you know the specific heat). If you have to achieve the temperature change in a determined time, use our watts to heat calculator to know the power required.
How to calculate specific heat
Determine whether you want to warm up the sample (give it some thermal energy) or cool it down (take some thermal energy away).
Insert the amount of energy supplied as a positive value. If you want to cool down the sample, insert the subtracted energy as a negative value. For example, say that we want to reduce the sample's thermal energy by 63,000 J. Then Q = -63,000 J.
Decide the temperature difference between the initial and final state of the sample and type it into the heat capacity calculator. If the sample is cooled down, the difference will be negative, and if warmed up - positive. Let's say we want to cool the sample down by 3 degrees. Then ΔT = -3 K. You can also go to advanced mode to type the initial and final values of temperature manually.
Determine the mass of the sample. We will assume m = 5 kg.
In our example, it will be equal to c = -63,000 J / (5 kg * -3 K) = 4,200 J/(kg·K). This is the typical heat capacity of water.
If you have problems with the units, feel free to use our temperature conversion or weight conversion calculators.
Heat capacity formula
The formula for specific heat looks like this:
c = Q / (mΔT)
Q is the amount of supplied or subtracted heat (in joules), m is the mass of the sample, and ΔT is the difference between the initial and final temperatures. Heat capacity is measured in J/(kg·K).
Typical values of specific heat
You don't need to use the heat capacity calculator for most common substances. The values of specific heat for some of the most popular ones are listed below.
ice: 2,100 J/(kg·K)
water: 4,200 J/(kg·K)
water vapor: 2,000 J/(kg·K)
basalt: 840 J/(kg·K)
granite: 790 J/(kg·K)
aluminum: 890 J/(kg·K)
iron: 450 J/(kg·K)
copper: 380 J/(kg·K)
lead: 130 J/(kg·K)
Having this information, you can also calculate how much energy you need to supply to a sample to increase or decrease its temperature. For instance, you can check how much heat you need to bring a pot of water to the boil to cook some pasta.
Wondering what the result actually means? Try our potential energy calculator to check how high you would raise the sample with this amount of energy. Or check how fast could the sample move with this kinetic energy calculator.
FAQ
How to calculate specific heat capacity?
Find the initial and final temperature as well as the mass of the sample and energy supplied.
Subtract the final and initial temperature to get the change in temperature (ΔT).
Multiply the change in temperature with the mass of the sample.
Divide the heat supplied/energy with the product.
The formula is C = Q / (ΔT ⨉ m).
What is specific heat capacity at constant volume?
The specific heat capacity is the heat or energy required to change one unit mass of a substance of a constant volume by 1 °C. The formula is Cv = Q / (ΔT ⨉ m).
What is the formula for specific heat?
The formula for specific heat capacity, C, of a substance with mass m, is C = Q /(m ⨉ ΔT). Where Q is the energy added and ΔT is the change in temperature. The specific heat capacity during different processes, such as constant volume, Cv and constant pressure, Cp, are related to each other by the specific heat ratio, ɣ= Cp/Cv, or the gas constant R = Cp - Cv.
What are the units for specific heat capacity?