Specific Heat Calculator
Solve the heat equation Q = m times c times deltaT for whichever value you are missing. Enter any three of heat in joules, mass in kilograms, specific heat in J/(kg K) and temperature change in kelvin, and the calculator returns the fourth. Built-in material hints fill in common specific heats like 4186 for water or 900 for aluminium.
How to use the specific heat calculator
- Choose the value to solve for in the Solve for menu: heat, mass, specific heat or temp change.
- Enter the three known values in SI units: joules, kilograms, J/(kg K) and kelvin.
- If you do not know the specific heat, pick a material from the c hint list to fill it in.
- Read the solved value, highlighted among the four result cards.
- Copy the full Q, m, c and deltaT summary if you need to reuse it.
Examples
Heat 2 kg of water by 10 K
m = 2 kg, c = 4186, deltaT = 10 K
Q = 83720 J
Find the mass that was heated
Q = 83720 J, c = 4186, deltaT = 10 K
m = 2 kg
Temperature rise of an aluminium block
Q = 9000 J, m = 0.5 kg, c = 900
deltaT = 20 K
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.
Which value can I solve for?
Any one of the four. Pick it in the Solve for menu, enter the other three, and the calculator rearranges Q = m c deltaT to return the value you left out.
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 widely used as a coolant.
Can I enter the temperature change in degrees Celsius?
Yes for deltaT, because a change of one degree Celsius equals a change of one kelvin, so the number is the same. Enter only the change, not an absolute temperature like 25 degrees.
Why is my heat value negative?
A negative deltaT means the substance cooled, so Q is negative because the substance released heat to its surroundings 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 the tool does not perform.
Where do the material hints come from?
They are typical textbook specific heats near room temperature, such as 4186 for water, 900 for aluminium and 385 for copper. Real values shift a little with temperature and purity, so treat them as good starting points.
Do my numbers get uploaded anywhere?
No. The calculation runs locally in your browser, so the values you enter never leave your device and nothing is stored on a server.
Learn more
- What specific heat capacity means
Specific heat capacity explained: what c is, why water sits at 4186 J per kg per kelvin, and how calorimetry measures the value.
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