Loading Calculator...
Please wait a moment
Please wait a moment
Convert between specific heat capacity units: J/(kg·K), BTU/(lb·°F), and cal/(g·°C)
| Material | J/(kg·K) | BTU/(lb·°F) | cal/(g·°C) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (liquid) | 4186 | 1.000 | 1.000 | Reference standard, thermal storage |
| Ice | 2050 | 0.490 | 0.490 | Cooling applications |
| Steam | 2010 | 0.480 | 0.480 | Heat transfer |
| Aluminum | 900 | 0.215 | 0.215 | Heat sinks, cookware |
| Concrete | 880 | 0.210 | 0.210 | Thermal mass in buildings |
| Steel | 490 | 0.117 | 0.117 | Structural, heat exchangers |
| Copper | 385 | 0.092 | 0.092 | Electrical, plumbing |
| Glass | 840 | 0.200 | 0.200 | Windows, containers |
| Wood (oak) | 2400 | 0.570 | 0.573 | ConstructionIcon, furniture |
| Air (20°C) | 1005 | 0.240 | 0.240 | HVAC, ventilation |
| Ethylene glycol | 2400 | 0.573 | 0.573 | Antifreeze, heat transfer |
| Engine oil | 2000 | 0.478 | 0.478 | Lubrication, cooling |
Specific Heat Capacity (c or cp) is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree. Materials with high specific heat can store more thermal energy, making them useful for thermal storage and temperature regulation.
Water has exceptionally high specific heat capacity (4,186 J/(kg·K) or 1.000 BTU/(lb·°F)), which is why it's used as the reference for defining calories and BTU. This property makes water excellent for:
Heat Energy Formula: Q = m × c × ΔT
Example: To heat 100 kg of water by 20°C requires: Q = 100 kg × 4,186 J/(kg·K) × 20 K = 8,372,000 J = 8.37 MJ
Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise 1 kg (or 1 lb) of a material by 1 degree Kelvin (or Fahrenheit). It's a fundamental property that determines how materials respond to heating and cooling.
Water's molecular structure and hydrogen bonding require more energy to increase molecular motion (temperature). This makes water excellent for storing thermal energy and regulating temperatures in HVAC systems and natural environments.
Use Q = m × c × ΔT to calculate heating/cooling energy. For example, heating 1000 gallons (3,785 kg) of water from 50°F to 120°F requires understanding both the mass, specific heat, and temperature change.
Specific heat is per unit mass (J/(kg·K)), while heat capacity is for a specific object (J/K). Heat capacity = mass × specific heat. Specific heat is a material property; heat capacity depends on the amount of material.
Nearly, but not exactly. The calorie and BTU were originally defined using water's specific heat, so water has c = 1.000 in both systems. However, due to different temperature scales and exact definitions, conversion factors vary slightly for other materials.
Yes, specific heat varies with temperature for most materials, though changes are often small over normal operating ranges. For precise calculations, especially at extreme temperatures, use temperature-specific values. Water's specific heat is relatively constant from 0-100°C.