Answers to AQA GCSE Specific Heat Capacity(Physics)

Name of SubstanceSpecific heat capacity (J/kg⁰C)
Aluminium900
Marble880
Gold130
Steel425
Water4200

Practice Questions

Use the table above to answer the following questions

1. A marble statue  of mass 2.5kg receives 10kJ of thermal energy from the Sun. Calculate the increase in temperature of the marble statue. 

Δθ = ΔE/(m x c)

Δθ = 10000/(2.5 x 880) = 4.5ºC

2. An aluminium water container of mass 900g contains 1.5kg of liquid water. The temperature of both increase from 20ºC to 90ºC. Calculate the total energy needed. 

Δθ = 90-20 = 70ºC

ΔE = m x c x Δθ

Energy change for aluminium container

ΔE = 0.9 x 900 x 70 = 56,700J

Energy change for water

ΔE = 1.5 x 4200 x 70 = 441,000J

Total energy is found by adding these together

ΔE(total) = 441,000+ 56,700 = 497,700J

3. A new substance has been discovered and has been named Ty. When 1100g of Ty is heated by supplying 6000J of energy its temperature increases by 40ºC. Calculate the specific heat capacity of Ty.

c = ΔE/(m x Δθ)

c = 6000/(1.1 x 40)

c = 136J/kgºC

Accordion Content

Accordion Content