Measuring Heat

Prepared by:
Lei Anjerisse B. Peralta
Mary Rose P. Lucas

Recall that the standard unit of energy in SI is the

Joule (J) which is equivalent to Newton-meter
(Nm). In the British system, British thermal unit
or Btu is used.
1 Btu = 1,054 J
But the most commonly used unit of heat is the
kilocalorie (kcal):

Calorie

Is the amount of heat used to raise the

temperature of one gram of liquid water
one degree Celsius.

Kilocalorie = 1,000 calories

This calorie, with a capital

C, is equivalent to a
kilocalorie or 1000
calories. The capital C is
only used to distinguish
the larger kilogram-Calorie
from the smaller gramcalorie.

Specific Heat

When heat is added to a substance in the

solid state, the molecules of that substance
gain kinetic energy and the temperature
rises.
The amount of heat needed to
raise a unit mass of a substance
one degree of temperature is
called the specific heat of the
substance.

Subtance

Specific Heat J/kg.

Air (50)
Water (15)
Paraffin
Alcohol, ethyl
Glass
Copper
Wood
Mercury
Oxygen
Iron or steel

1050
4180
2900
2430
840
390
1750
140
910
460

Calorimeter
Is used to measure the
specific heat.
It is a closed, well insulated
can. The can is filled with
water of known mass. An
inner cup is submerged in the
water. The sample substance
heated in boiling water for
several minutes is placed
inside the chamber.

Sample Problem:
How much heat is needed to raise the temperature of
0.50kg of water from 15 to 80?
Given:
m=0.50kg
T= Tfinal Tinitial = 80-15 =65
C=4180 J/kg
Solution :
Q= mc 8t
=(0.50kg)(65)(4180 J/kg.)
=+1.36x10 J

Find : Q

When the value of Q has a positive sign, like in

the sample problem above, it indicates that heat
was added to the system. If the sign of Q is
negative, heat was removed to the system.

Sample problem 2 :
What is the final temperature of a liter of water
initially at 30 and was cooled by removing a
126kJ of heat?
Given:
m= DV=(1kg/L)(1L)=1kg
T initial =30
Q= -126kJ or 126000J (negative becaise Heat is
removed)
c=4180 J/kg.
Find:
Final temperature

Solution:
Q = mc t = mc(Tf-Ti) rearranging this to solve
for Ti
Tf = Q/mc + Ti
=-126,000 J / (1kg)(4180 J/kg) + 30
=-30 + 30
=0