is heat capacity the same as specific heat capacity?
No, heat capacity and specific heat capacity are not the same, although they are related concepts.
Heat capacity (C) refers to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of an object or substance by a certain amount. It is a measure of how much heat an object can absorb or give off.
Specific heat capacity (c), on the other hand, is the heat capacity per unit mass of a substance. It is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius (or 1 Kelvin).
To differentiate between heat capacity and specific heat capacity, you need to consider the mass involved. Heat capacity (C) is dependent on the mass of the entire object or substance, while specific heat capacity (c) is a property specific to a particular substance and is defined based on a unit mass.
To calculate the heat capacity (C) of an object or substance, you would multiply the specific heat capacity (c) by the mass (m) of the object:
C = c * m
So, while heat capacity and specific heat capacity are related, they represent different properties and are used in different calculations.