Page 80 - Science Course 1 (Book 2)

Mo8-L6a: What is the Effect of Specif c Heat?

A thermal insulator is a material through which Key Concept
thermal energy does not f ow easily.
What is the Effect of Specif c Heat?

What does it mean if a material has a low specif c
heat?

The amount of thermal energy required to increase
the temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1°C is called
specif c heat.

Water’s high specif c heat helps prevent your body
from overheating.

Changing the temperature of a material with a low
specif c heat is easier than to change the tempera-
ture of a material with a high specif c heat.

In a hot car, the temperature of thermal conductors,
such as the safety-belt buckles, increases more SUMMARY
quickly than the temperature of thermal insulators, What is the Effect of Specif c Heat?
such as the seat material.
When a material has a low specif c heat,
transferring a small amount of energy to
the material increases its temperature
signif cantly.

metal spoon wooden spoon
too hot warm

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