Internal Energy & Energy Transfers (OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway Science Suite)): Revision Notes

Specific Heat Capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C. It measures how much heat energy is needed to change the temperature of a substance.

Specific Latent Heat is the amount of energy required to change the state of 1 kg of a substance without changing its temperature. It measures the energy needed to change the state (e.g., from solid to liquid or liquid to gas) without affecting temperature.

2. Energy Use:

• Specific Heat Capacity involves a temperature change. Energy added to a substance increases its temperature, which is directly proportional to the energy input, mass, and specific heat capacity.
• Specific Latent Heat involves a state change. Energy is used to break or form bonds between particles during the phase transition (e.g., melting, boiling), but the temperature remains constant.

3. Formula

• Specific Heat Capacity: $ΔE=mcΔθ$
• Specific Latent Heat: $E=mL$