Specific Heat Capacity (GCSE Physics)
This lesson introduces the concept of Specific Heat Capacity (SHC) within the Energy chapter of the GCSE Physics curriculum. Students will learn why different materials heat up at different rates and how to quantify this using the standard equation.
Learning objectives
- Define specific heat capacity and state its units (J/kg°C).
- Apply the equation ΔE = mcΔθ to calculate energy, mass, or temperature change.
- Explain why different substances require different amounts of energy to change temperature.
- Rearrange the SHC equation to solve for any variable.
Lesson plan (60 minutes)
Introduction · 5 min
Do Now: Retrieval questions on energy stores and temperature vs heat.
Direct Instruction · 15 min
Teacher explanation of SHC, formula, and units using the worked example.
Guided Practice · 10 min
Guided practice: Solving 2 problems as a class to check for misconceptions.
Independent Practice · 20 min
Differentiated worksheet task: Students work through Support, Core, or Stretch sheets.
Review and Assessment · 10 min
Plenary: 8-question multiple choice quiz and self-marking.
Key vocabulary
- Internal Energy
- The energy stored inside a system by the particles.
- Specific Heat Capacity
- The energy required to raise 1kg of a substance by 1°C.
- Joule (J)
- The SI unit of energy.
- Delta (Δ)
- A Greek letter used in physics to represent a 'change in' a value.
- Temperature
- The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance.
Core worksheet (first questions)
- A kettle heats 0.9 kg of water from 20°C to 30°C. Calculate the energy transferred (c of water = 4200 J/kg°C).
- Calculate the energy needed to increase the temperature of 500g of ethanol by 20°C (c = 2400 J/kg°C). Watch your units!
- A 2kg block requires 20,000 J to increase in temperature by 2.5°C. Calculate the specific heat capacity.
- Calculate the mass of aluminium (c=900 J/kg°C) that would be heated by 40°C by 54,000 J of energy.
Quiz (sample)
1. What are the standard units for Specific Heat Capacity?
- A. J/kg
- B. J/kg°C
- C. W/kg°C
- D. N/kg°C
2. If a substance has an SHC of 4200 J/kg°C, how much energy is needed to heat 1kg by 1°C?
- A. 420 J
- B. 4,200 J
- C. 42,000 J
- D. 420,000 J
3. Which symbol in the equation represents the change in temperature?
- A. m
- B. c
- C. ΔE
- D. Δθ
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