Question

A certain amount of heat Q will warm 1 g of material X by 3°C and 1 g of material Y by 4°C. Which material has a higher specific heat capacity?

Answer 1

We know that heat Q warms 1 g of material X by 3°C. Therefore, substituting these values in a specific heat formula, we get:

Q = 1 × Cx × 3     ...(1)

Similarly,  heat Q warms 1 g of material Y by 4°C, therefore

Q = 1 × Cx × 4     ...(2)

As the same heat Q is provided to both materials, the left-hand side of equations (1) and (2) are the same. Hence, on comparing the right-hand sides, we get,

3Cx = 4Cy

Cx = `4/3`Cy and

Cy = `3/4`Cx

Hence, material X has greater specific heat than material Y. It is because its temperature rises less than Y for the mass amount of heat.