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26 Dec 2025

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2 pages

Understanding Energy, Temperature, and Specific Heat Capacity

Michael Tao

@michael_2299

Ever wondered why some objects heat up faster than others,... Show more

# PlEnergy & Temperature

Temperature tells you how hot or cold something is. You can
measure temperature with a thermometer or temperature

Energy & Temperature Basics

Temperature is simply how hot or cold something is, measured in degrees Celsius (°C) or kelvin (K) using thermometers. When you heat water on the hob, you're transferring energy from the gas flame into the water's thermal store, making the water particles move faster and vibrate more.

The energy in thermal stores is measured in joules (J). This energy depends on how particles are arranged and how quickly they're moving about. Think of it like a busy playground - the more energetic the kids (particles), the more chaotic it becomes!

Heating can do three main things: increase temperature, cause changes of state (like melting ice), or trigger chemical reactions. Changes of state are physical changes - you're not creating new substances, just rearranging particles. That's why you can easily reverse them, unlike chemical changes such as burning, which permanently alter substances.

Quick Tip: Remember that physical changes are reversible (like melting chocolate), whilst chemical changes aren't (like burning toast)!

Specific Heat Capacity

Some materials are stubborn when it comes to changing temperature - this is where specific heat capacity comes in. It tells you exactly how much energy (in joules) you need to raise 1kg of a material by 1°C.

Water has a massive specific heat capacity of 4200 J/kg°C, which explains why it takes forever to heat up your pasta water! Compare this to copper at just 330 J/kg°C - copper heats up much more quickly.

To calculate energy transfer, use this formula: Energy = mass × specific heat capacity × temperature change. For example, heating 0.5kg of aluminium by 10°C needs 4600J of energy (0.5 × 913 × 10).

Materials with high specific heat capacity are brilliant for storing thermal energy - that's why water is used in central heating systems and why coastal areas have milder temperatures than inland regions.

Exam Success: Always convert grams to kilograms in calculations, and remember to include proper units in your final answer!

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26 Dec 2025

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2 pages

Understanding Energy, Temperature, and Specific Heat Capacity

Michael Tao

@michael_2299

Ever wondered why some objects heat up faster than others, or why water takes ages to boil? Understanding energy and temperature explains these everyday phenomena and helps you grasp how heat moves around in the world.

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Energy & Temperature Basics

Quick Tip: Remember that physical changes are reversible (like melting chocolate), whilst chemical changes aren't (like burning toast)!

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Specific Heat Capacity

Exam Success: Always convert grams to kilograms in calculations, and remember to include proper units in your final answer!