Lesson 9 of 10 · Energy
Specific Heat Capacity
⚡
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
What you'll learn
Specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius: E = mcΔθ. Water's value is unusually high at about 4,200 J/kg°C, which is why coastal climates are milder and why water makes a good coolant.
Key words
specific heat capacity
Energy required to raise 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C.
temperature rise
The increase in temperature, Δθ, produced by heating.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.
Get ready
🧰 What you need
- immersion heater
- beaker
- thermometer
- balance
- stopwatch
- insulation
Get ready
⚠️ Safety first
- The heater and water get hot — do not touch either during or just after the run.
- Never switch the heater on unless it is fully immersed.
Step 1 of 4 · Read
Think about what you just learned: say what "specific heat capacity" and "temperature rise" mean in your own words before you start.
Step 2 of 4 · Do
Heat a measured mass of water with an immersion heater for a timed period, recording temperature every 30 s. Use E = mcΔθ with your energy input to calculate c, and compare with the accepted value.
Step 3 of 4 · Observe
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Step 4 of 4 · Record
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Question 1 of 2
Question 2 of 2
Mind = blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Nice work!
You got 0 of 2 right.
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
✨ More to explore
🌍 Where you see this in real life: You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
👨👩👧 For the dinner table: “Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Specific Heat Capacity
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
Full screen — no distractions
Done with science? Try something else
Print the whole Energy track
All 9th Grade Energy lessons as a printable PDF, with worksheets and answer keys.