---
title: "Specific Heat Capacity and Specific Latent Heat in Calculations"
description: "Warming a substance takes m c delta theta, while changing its state takes m L with no temperature change at all. A heating curve is read as a run of these two calculations taken in order."
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/specific-heat-capacity-and-specific-latent-heat-in-calculations-mt_GKNPAJgroW
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/specific-heat-capacity-and-specific-latent-heat-in-calculations-mt_GKNPAJgroW.md
retrieved: 2026-09-12
---

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# Specific Heat Capacity and Specific Latent Heat in Calculations

Warming a substance takes m c delta theta, while changing its state takes m L with no temperature change at all. A heating curve is read as a run of these two calculations taken in order.

Subject: Science · Area: Energy · Ages 15 to 17
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/specific-heat-capacity-and-specific-latent-heat-in-calculations-mt_GKNPAJgroW

## Ready when they can

- Works a multi-stage problem that both warms and melts a sample
- Reads a temperature-time graph and names the flat sections as changes of state
- Uses a heater's power and running time as the energy supplied, and comments on losses to the surroundings

## Lesson: Warming, melting and heater maths

Warming follows Q equals m c delta T. Mass times specific heat times temperature change. Water needs 4200 J for each kilogram per degree, so 0.5 kg warmed by 10 degrees takes 0.5 times 4200 times 10, which is 21000 J.

Melting or boiling follows Q equals m L, with no temperature change at all. The energy loosens molecules instead of heating them. So 0.2 kg of ice melting at 0 degrees takes 0.2 times 334000, which is 66800 J.

**Example.** A 50 W heater running 120 s supplies power times time, which is 6000 J. Some heat always leaks to the room, so the sample warms less than power times time predicts. Big exam questions chain stages: warm the ice, melt it, then warm the water, in order.

**Tip.** Read a temperature-time graph by shape. Slopes mean warming, while flat sections mean a change of state is running. The thermometer freezes until melting or boiling finishes, then the line climbs again.

**Recap.** Warm with m c delta T, change state with m L, feed heaters with power times time, and read flats as changes of state.

## Practice

14 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Specific Heat Capacity as a Material Property](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/specific-heat-capacity-as-a-material-property-mt_mXC9IKom3P)
- [Internal Energy, Absolute Zero and the Kelvin Scale](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/internal-energy-absolute-zero-and-the-kelvin-scale-mt_n4Ku8ZDy1U)