Heat Capacity Calculator
Calculate heat capacity, specific heat, and thermal energy transfer
Heat Capacity Calculation
Object Mass
Mass of the object or substance
Substance (Optional)
Select a common substance to auto-fill specific heat capacity
Specific Heat Capacity
Specific heat capacity of the material
Results
Calculation Formula
Example Calculation
Water Heat Capacity
Given:
• Mass of water: 236 g = 0.236 kg
• Specific heat of water: 4,184 J/(kg·K)
Find: Heat capacity of the water
Solution
Using the formula: S = c × m
S = 4,184 J/(kg·K) × 0.236 kg
S = 987.4 J/K
This means 987.4 J of energy is needed to raise the water temperature by 1 K
Key Concepts
Heat Capacity
Extensive property (depends on mass)
Specific Heat
Intensive property (material characteristic)
Units
J/K or cal/°C
Formula
S = c × m
Common Specific Heats
Understanding Heat Capacity
What is Heat Capacity?
Heat capacity (or thermal capacity) is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of an object by one degree. It depends on both the mass of the object and the material it's made from.
Extensive vs Intensive Properties
Heat capacity is an extensive property because it depends on the amount of material. Specific heat capacity is an intensive property because it only depends on the type of material, not the amount.
Mathematical Relationships
Heat Capacity:
S = c × m
Heat Transfer:
ΔQ = S × ΔT
Alternative Form:
ΔQ = c × m × ΔT
Practical Applications
Engineering
Thermal management in electronics, HVAC system design, and heat exchanger calculations
Biology
Understanding body temperature regulation and thermal homeostasis in living organisms
Environmental Science
Climate modeling, ocean thermal dynamics, and energy storage systems
Why Does Water Have High Heat Capacity?
Water's high heat capacity (4,184 J/(kg·K)) is due to hydrogen bonding between molecules. Much of the supplied heat energy goes into breaking these bonds rather than increasing molecular motion, making water an excellent thermal buffer for biological and environmental systems.