Question detail
Which of the following statements is true regarding specific heat capacity?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes
Question
- A. It varies with the mass of the substance.
- B. It is the same for all substances.
- C. It is a characteristic property of a substance.
- D. It only applies to liquids.
Answer
It is a characteristic property of a substance.
Explanation
The correct option is "It is a characteristic property of a substance.". It is a characteristic property of a substance. is right because it directly matches Energy changes in systems: Define specific heat capacity as the energy needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius.. The other options are less suitable because they change the required Physics relationship, confuse the relevant energy store or use a distractor that does not answer the question.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Specific Heat Capacity
Students often confuse specific heat capacity with total thermal energy, thinking it represents the total energy needed to heat a substance rather than the energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram by one degree Celsius.
Clarify that specific heat capacity is a property of a material that indicates how much energy is needed to change the temperature of one kilogram of that material by one degree Celsius, and emphasize the distinction between specific heat capacity and total thermal energy.
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