Question

Unit of specific heat capacity is ______.

Options

• kg²m²s⁻²K⁻¹

• m²s⁻²K⁻¹

Answer 1

Unit of specific heat capacity is m²s⁻²K⁻¹.

Explanation:

Specific heat capacity (c) is the amount of heat energy (Q) required to raise the temperature (ΔT) of a unit mass (m) of a substance by one degree. The formula is Q = mcΔT; so c = `Q/(m delta T)`. In SI units, energy (Q) is measured in Joules (J), mass (m) in kilograms (kg), and temperature (ΔT) in Kelvin (K), giving the unit J kg⁻¹K⁻¹. Since 1 Joule = 1 kg m²s⁻², the base unit is kg m²s⁻¹kg⁻¹K⁻¹which simplifies to m²s⁻²K⁻¹.