Specific heat is the amount of heat per mass unit required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius. The relationship between the amount of heat added in calories to an object that is changing temperature is shown below.
Example:
A pot of water with a specific heat of 4.186 joule/gram °C and a mass of 100g needs to have its temperature increased 30 °C in order to reach a boil. What is the amount of heat (calories) that are required to change the temperature of the pot of water?
Q=cm∆T
Q=4.186 joule/gram °C * 100g * 30 °C
Q=12,558 calories
The pot of water will require 12,558 calories of heat energy in order to begin boiling.
