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Specific Heat

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The specific heat capacity of a substance refers to the energy required to increase the temperature of one gram of that substance by one degree Celcius. Specific heat capacity is often represented in calories (cal), grams (g), and degrees Celsius (oC), but can also be expressed in joules (J), kilograms (kg), and Kelvin (K), among other units.
For example, increasing the temperature of one gram of water by 1°C requires one calorie of heat energy and can be written as 1 cal/g-°C, or 4186 J/kg/K.

Heat Flow and Specific Heat

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Quantifying Heat

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials

Characterization of Thermal Transport in One-dimensional Solid Materials

Published on: January 26, 2014

Frequency-dependent specific heat from thermal effusion in spherical geometry.

Bo Jakobsen¹, Niels Boye Olsen, Tage Christensen

¹DNRF Centre Glass and Time, IMFUFA, Department of Sciences, Roskilde University, Postbox 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. boj@ruc.dk

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|September 28, 2010

Summary

This study introduces a new method to measure frequency-dependent specific heat at the glass transition. The technique uses thermal waves from a spherical thermistor, allowing independent determination of thermal conductivity and specific heat.

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Experimental Methodology for Estimation of Local Heat Fluxes and Burning Rates in Steady Laminar Boundary Layer Diffusion Flames

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Thermodynamics
Physical Chemistry

Background:

The glass transition is a critical phenomenon in amorphous materials, influencing their mechanical and thermal properties.
Accurate measurement of frequency-dependent specific heat is essential for understanding material behavior at the glass transition.
Existing methods for specific heat measurement often face challenges with boundary conditions and independent property determination.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a novel method for measuring frequency-dependent specific heat at the glass transition.
To apply this method to the material 5-polyphenyl-4-ether.
To independently determine thermal conductivity and specific heat using the developed technique.

Main Methods:

Utilizes thermal waves effusing radially from a spherical thermistor.
The thermistor functions as both a heat generator and a thermometer.
Employs the 3ω technique, accounting for higher-order terms.

Main Results:

Successfully measured frequency-dependent specific heat at the glass transition for 5-polyphenyl-4-ether.
Demonstrated the ability to independently determine thermal conductivity and specific heat.
Identified optimal frequency ranges for highest sensitivity based on thermal diffusion length.

Conclusions:

The presented method offers an advancement over planar effusion techniques due to analytically known boundary conditions.
The method measures longitudinal specific heat, providing distinct thermodynamic information.
This technique enhances the understanding of thermal properties of materials near their glass transition.