TOPIC: HEAT

1.
2.

Heat is form of energy which involves warm and hot conditions while temperature is its measurement.
The S.I unit for heat is the Joule (J) while the S.I unit for temperature is Kevin (K).

3.

Two objects are in thermal contact when heat energy can be transferred between them.
Thermal equilibrium can be summarised as:
There are no net flows of heat between two objects that are in thermal equilibrium. Two objects in thermal
equilibrium have the same temperature.

4.

A Thermometer is an instrument which is used to measure and it is constructed base on the principle of thermal
equilibrium.

HEAT CAPACITY
1.

Specific heat capacity, c of a substance is the quality of heat required to raise the temperature of one
kilogram of the substance through a temperature of one degree Celsius.
Heat energy = mass x specific heat capacity x temperature change
Q

= mc

Specific heat capacity ,

Q
m

where :
Q = the heat energy transferred to the material in joules (J).
= the temperature change in oC or Kelvin (K).
m = the mass of the material in kilogram (kg)
2.
3.

Unit for c is Jkg-1 C-1 or Jkg-1K-1 . (Jkg-1 C-1 = Jkg-1K-1 )

The heat content of a substance depends on its material, mass and temperature.

4.

We know that heat energy cannot be created. However, electrical energy , potential energy and kinetic energy
can be converted to heat energy.
Electrical energy

Heater

Heat energy

Power = P
Potential energy

Object fall from

Pt = mc
Heat energy

a high position.
Kinetic energy

moving object stopped

due to friction.

5.
6.

mgh = mc
Heat energy
mv2 = mc

When two objects of equal mass are heated at equal rates, the object with the smaller specific heat capacity will
have faster temperature increase.
When two hot objects of equal mass are left to cool down, the temperature of the object with smaller heat
capacity will drop faster.

Latent Heat
The heat absorbed or given out at constant temperature during change of phase is known as latent heat.
Latent Heat of Fusion
The heat absorbed by melting solid is known as the latent heat of fusion.
For a liquid to solidify at its freezing point latent heat of fusion has to be removed from it.
Latent Heat of Vaporisation
When a liquid boils, the heat absorbed is used to
(a)
Completely break the bonds between the particles,
(b)
Do work against atmospheric pressure when the gaseous vapour expands into the atmosphere.
The heat absorbed during boiling is known as the latent heat of vaporisation.
When vapour condenses back into the liquid phase, latent heat of vaporisation is released.
Specific Latent Heat
The specific latent heat of a substance is the amount of heat required to change the phase of 1 kg of the substance at a
constant temperature.
Specific latent heat,

where, Q =
latent heat absorbed or released by the substance,
m = mass of the substance,
-1
with unit in J kg .
The latent heat absorbed or released when a substance of mass m changes from one phase to another is given by:

The specific latent heat of fusion of a substance is defined as the amount of heat required to change 1 kg of the
substance from a solid to liquid phase without a change in temperature.
The specific latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is defined as the amount of heat required to change 1 kg of the
substance from a liquid to gaseous phase without a change in temperature.
Activities :
1. How much heat energy is required to raise the temperature of a 4kg iron bar from 32oC to 52oC ? ( c of iron = 452Jkg1o -1
C )
2. A bottle containing 1.5kg of water at 34oC is put into a refrigerator. What is the temperature of the water after 1.575 x
105J of heat has been removed from the water ? ( c of water = 4200Jkg-1oC-1)
3.

An electric kettle has a power rating of 2.4kW. How long does it take the kettle to heat up 4.5kg of tap water from
28oC to 100oC ? ( c of water = 4200Jkg-1oC-1)

An electric kettle contains 3.4 kg of water.

(a)
Calculate the amount of heat required to boil away all the water after the boiling point has been
reached.
(b)
If the power of the heater is 2.4 kW, what is the time taken?
[Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water = 2.26 x 106 J kg-1]

2
Water of mass 0.36 kg at 25C is put into the freezer compartment of a refrigerator.
Calculate
the
amount of heat that must be removed to change the water completely into ice.
=3.36 x l05
J kg-1]
[Specific heat capacity, c = 4200 J kg-1 C-1; Specific latent heat of fusion, I
3

How much heat must be supplied to 2.0 kg of water at 28C to change it to steam at
[Specific heat capacity, c = 4200 J kg-1C-1; Specific latent heat of vaporisation, I =

100C?
2.26 x 106 J kg]