Specific Heat Calculator
Calculate heat transfer with the equation Q = m times c times deltaT. Enter any three of heat, mass, specific heat capacity and temperature change in SI units, and the calculator finds the missing value.
How to use the specific heat calculator
- Pick the value you want to solve for.
- Enter the three known values in SI units (J, kg, J/(kg K), K).
- Read the missing value in the results.
- Use a common material hint if you do not know the specific heat.
Examples
Heat 2 kg of water by 10 K
m = 2 kg, c = 4186, deltaT = 10 K
Q = 83720 J
Find the mass heated
Q = 83720 J, c = 4186, deltaT = 10 K
m = 2 kg
Frequently asked questions
What is the specific heat formula?
Q = m * c * deltaT, where Q is heat in joules, m is mass in kilograms, c is the specific heat capacity in J/(kg K) and deltaT is the temperature change.
What units should I use?
SI units: heat in joules, mass in kilograms, specific heat in joules per kilogram per kelvin, and temperature change in kelvin. A change in kelvin equals a change in degrees Celsius.
What is the specific heat of water?
About 4186 J/(kg K) for liquid water. That high value is why water resists temperature change and is used as a coolant.
Why is my heat value negative?
A negative deltaT means the substance cooled, so Q is negative because the substance released heat rather than absorbing it.
Does this account for phase changes?
No. This equation covers heating or cooling within a single phase. Melting or boiling needs latent heat, which is a separate calculation.
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