Thermodynamics
Heat Capacity
Heat required to change temperature of a substance.
Variables
QJ
Heat
Heat transferred
In SI units: kg·m²/s²
mkg
Mass
Mass of substance
Allowed values: 0 or more
cJ/(kg·K)
Specific heat
Heat capacity per mass
In SI units: m²/(s²·K)
Allowed values: greater than 0
ΔTK
Temperature change
Change in temperature
Derivation
Q = mcΔT by definition of specific heat capacity.
Your notes
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Check value
Round inputs run through this page's calculator. Use it to test your own working or a rearranged form. It is a test case, not a real-world example.
- m = 2 kg (Mass)
- c = 3 J/(kg·K) (Specific heat)
- ΔT = 4 K (Temperature change)
Result: Q = 24 J
Other thermodynamics formulas with the same quantities
- Linear Thermal Expansion (Heat & Temperature) shares Temperature change
- Volume Thermal Expansion (Heat & Temperature) shares Temperature change
Where this formula is listed
- Thermodynamics formulas, under Heat & Temperature, alongside Heat Conduction, Stefan-Boltzmann Law, Thermal Resistance and Newton's Law of Cooling.
- In the thermodynamics list it comes before Latent Heat.
- Thermodynamics formula sheet, one of 34 formulas printed with symbol keys and SI units.
- The full formula index, grouped by category and topic.
Common questions
What is the Heat Capacity formula?
Heat Capacity is written Q = mcΔT. Heat required to change temperature of a substance. It belongs to Thermodynamics, under Heat & Temperature.
What are the units in Q = mcΔT?
In SI units, Q is heat, measured in kg·m²/s²; m is mass, measured in kg; c is specific heat, measured in m²/(s²·K); ΔT is temperature change, measured in K.
How is the Heat Capacity formula derived?
Q = mcΔT by definition of specific heat capacity. The result is Q = mcΔT.