Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-1-specific-heat-capacity

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [Science Practicals](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals.md) › [National Curriculum](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum.md) › Specific Heat Capacity

# Specific Heat Capacity

Science Practicals: GCSE, topic 3.1.1

## Big Shaq - Heat Energy

Big Shaq is  right when he says "Mans not hot". An object is cold when it loses or doesn't have enough heat energy. It is more accurate to say "Man's not hot", than "Man is cold".

[GIF: ](https://media.giphy.com/media/l4EoSwB07iIT4jYhG/giphy.mp4)

## Changes in Internal Energy

We calculate the change in internal energy by multiplying together an object's mass, its specific heat capacity and the change in temperature.

### Object's mass

[GIF: Object's mass](https://media.giphy.com/media/JzTzipuCggs3m/giphy.mp4)

### Specific heat capacity

[GIF: Specific heat capacity](https://media.giphy.com/media/lE6MQFHe6NREA/giphy.mp4)

### Change in temperature

[GIF: Change in temperature](https://media.giphy.com/media/2KxPrBH1F9wBy/giphy.mp4)

## Test yourself on Specific Heat Capacity

- If the change in internal energy = 100J, mass = 10kg, and temperature change = 1°C, what is the specific heat capacity?
- Which units are used to measure the change in an object's internal energy?
- State the difference between thermal capacity and specific heat capacity.

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/35d9e7b0-1dfb-11e8-b5b7-7546c70e1a36/section/cebf34e0-1e04-11e8-b5b7-7546c70e1a36/session)

- Previous topic: [2.1.15 Water Purification 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-15-water-purification-2.md)
- Next topic: [3.1.2 Thermal Capacity & Insulation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-2-thermal-capacity-and-insulation.md)

## Science Practicals: GCSE contents

### 1 Biology
- 1.1 Practicals
  - [1.1.1 Microscope & Bacteria](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-1-microscope-and-bacteria.md)
  - [1.1.2 Bacteria](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-2-bacteria.md)
  - [1.1.3 Osmosis Tests](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-3-osmosis-tests.md)
  - [1.1.4 Osmosis & Food Tests](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-4-osmosis-and-food-tests.md)
  - [1.1.5 Enzymes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-5-enzymes.md)
  - [1.1.6 Enzymes 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-6-enzymes-2.md)
  - [1.1.7 Photosynthesis & Plant Responses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-7-photosynthesis-and-plant-responses.md)
  - [1.1.8 Photosynthesis Experiments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-8-photosynthesis-experiments.md)
  - [1.1.9 Reaction Time](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-9-reaction-time.md)
  - [1.1.10 Quadrats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-10-quadrats.md)
  - [1.1.11 Decay](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/1-1-11-decay.md)

### 2 Chemistry
- 2.1 Practicals
  - [2.1.1 Salts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-1-salts.md)
  - [2.1.2 Neutralisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-2-neutralisation.md)
  - [2.1.3 Titration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-3-titration.md)
  - [2.1.4 Electrolysis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-4-electrolysis.md)
  - [2.1.5 Electrolysis 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-5-electrolysis-2.md)
  - [2.1.6 Rate of Reaction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-6-rate-of-reaction.md)
  - [2.1.7 Rate of Reaction 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-7-rate-of-reaction-2.md)
  - [2.1.8 Chromatography](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-8-chromatography.md)
  - [2.1.9 Identifying Gases](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-9-identifying-gases.md)
  - [2.1.10 Identifying Gases 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-10-identifying-gases-2.md)
  - [2.1.11 Identifying Ions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-11-identifying-ions.md)
  - [2.1.12 Carbonates, Halides & Sulfates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-12-carbonates-halides-and-sulfates.md)
  - [2.1.13 Flame Emission Spectroscopy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-13-flame-emission-spectroscopy.md)
  - [2.1.14 Water Purification](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-14-water-purification.md)
  - [2.1.15 Water Purification 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/2-1-15-water-purification-2.md)

### 3 Physics
- 3.1 Practicals
  - [3.1.1 Specific Heat Capacity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-1-specific-heat-capacity.md)
  - [3.1.2 Thermal Capacity & Insulation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-2-thermal-capacity-and-insulation.md)
  - [3.1.3 Latent Heat](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-3-latent-heat.md)
  - [3.1.4 Resistance & Current](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-4-resistance-and-current.md)
  - [3.1.5 Resistance & Current 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-5-resistance-and-current-2.md)
  - [3.1.6 Density](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-6-density.md)
  - [3.1.7 Density 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-7-density-2.md)
  - [3.1.8 Force & Extension - Springs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-8-force-and-extension-springs.md)
  - [3.1.9 Waves - Ripple Tank](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-9-waves-ripple-tank.md)
  - [3.1.10 Light](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-10-light.md)
  - [3.1.11 Light Reflection & Refraction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-11-light-reflection-and-refraction.md)
  - [3.1.12 Radiation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-12-radiation.md)
  - [3.1.13 Radiation 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/science-practicals/national-curriculum/3-1-13-radiation-2.md)
