Specific Heat Calculator

How to use the Specific Heat Calculator

1. 1Enter the mass, the material and the start and end temperatures.
2. 2Pick the units or options from the menus if the heat energy tool offers them.
3. 3Read the heat energy in the large result box.
4. 4Look at the extra rows for related figures.
5. 5Press Copy result to keep the answer.

When you need the heat energy

Cooks, brewers and engineers use the formula to estimate how long a kettle or a heater needs. A 2 kW kettle gives 2,000 J every second, so 62,790 J takes about 31 seconds if all the heat goes to the water.

Students use it in calorimetry experiments, where the heat lost by a hot metal equals the heat gained by water. A negative answer means the material gives out heat as it cools.

How the heat energy is worked out

Heat Q = mass × specific heat × (final temperature − starting temperature). With the mass in grams and specific heat in J/(g·°C), Q is in joules. Warming 250 g of water from 20 °C to 80 °C takes 250 × 4.186 × 60 = 62,790 J, which is about 15 kcal or 17.4 Wh. Heating 1 kg of water from 20 °C to 100 °C needs 334,880 J.

Every answer on this page comes from that one rule, so you can check any result by hand with a calculator. The figures shown underneath, such as other units, are conversions of the same answer.

• Seven materials plus custom
• Grams or kilograms
• Result in J, kJ, kcal and Wh

Mistakes to avoid with heat energy

The formula only holds while the material stays in one state. Melting ice or boiling water takes extra energy that this tool does not include. Real heating also loses some heat to the surroundings, so allow extra time and energy.

On phone and computer

On a phone, type into the boxes one after another and read the heat energy underneath; Copy result puts it on the clipboard for a message or a note. On a computer the inputs sit on the left and the answer on the right, so you can change one figure and watch the heat energy move. The specific heat calculator works the same on both. Heat answers in joules or calories, so use Energy Converter to switch. Temperature Converter handles Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin, BTU Calculator covers heating and cooling jobs, and Electricity Cost Calculator shows what the energy costs.

Features

• Same state only
• Allow for heat loss
• Negative result means heat released
• Clear messages when the heat energy inputs make no sense
• Copy the result with one tap
• Private: nothing is uploaded

Frequently asked questions