Which material would have a higher specific heat: a. a material made of heavier particles b. a material made of lighter particles c. the mass of the particles does not affect specific heat
c. the mass of the particles does not affect specific heat
Specific heat is a property that represents the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. It is typically measured in terms of joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C).
The specific heat of a substance is determined by its chemical composition and structure, rather than the mass of its particles. Therefore, whether a material is composed of heavier or lighter particles does not have a direct impact on its specific heat.
To determine the specific heat of a material, experimental measurements are required. The most common method involves using a calorimeter, where the substance is heated or cooled, and its temperature change is recorded. By knowing the amount of heat energy applied and the resulting temperature change, the specific heat can be calculated using the equation:
Specific Heat (c) = Heat Energy (q) / (Mass (m) x Temperature Change (ΔT))
So, the specific heat of a material depends on the amount of heat energy required to increase its temperature by a certain amount, regardless of the mass of its particles.