Specific heat capacity – heating different materials
PhysicsThermal Physics & GasesAges 17–18Virtual lab
Use it with your class: students open it from a link or a QR code, with no account needed.
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The same heat source of power P heats two different materials. Since the heat transferred is Q = m·c·Δt, a material with a large specific heat capacity (water) warms up much more slowly than aluminium or oil of the same mass. The temperature-versus-time graph shows a slope inversely proportional to m·c.
Lesson: Specific heat capacity
What it shows
Specific heat capacity c is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 K, so the heat transferred is Q = m·c·Δt. In the simulation, two samples of equal mass start at the same temperature and receive heat at the same rate P, with no losses. Their temperature rises linearly with time, with slope P/(m·c). Water, with c = 4200 J/(kg·K), warms most slowly; copper, at 380 J/(kg·K), warms fastest. This explains why water is used as a coolant and why coastal areas have smaller daily temperature swings.
How to use
Choose two substances for Material A and Material B, for example water and aluminium, and let both heat for the same time. Compare the temperature rises on the thermometers and the slopes on the graph, then check their ratio against the ratio of the c values. Press Reheat after changing Mass of each sample or Heat source power, and observe how the slopes change while their ratio stays the same.
Parameters you can change
- Material A Water, Cooking oil, Aluminium, Copper, Iron
- Material B Water, Cooking oil, Aluminium, Copper, Iron
- Mass of each sample 0.1–3 kg
- Heat source power 50–1500 W
- Initial temperature 0–40 °C
Questions to explore
- After the same heating time, which material has the greatest temperature rise, and why?
- If the mass of each sample is doubled, what happens to the slope of the temperature–time graph?
- Why are cooking pans usually made of metals with a low specific heat capacity?
