Heat is the thermal energy that is supplied from the hotter object to the cooler object. The unit of measurement for energy is the joule. Energy is supplied to water when heated. It is transformed into the internal energy of the water molecules which is in two forms: kinetic and potential energy. Heat is then a measure of the change in the total internal energy of the body.
The heat capacity of an object is the amount of energy which must be supplied to it to raise its temperature by 1°C. The heat capacity of an object depends on the material it is made of and the mass of the substance. Metal objects heat up easily – their heat capacities are low. Objects made of non-metals and liquids have higher heat capacities.
Energy required = heat capacity × temperature rise, E = C × θ
Where C = heat capacity
Specific Heat Capacity
The specific heat capacity of a substance is the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 Kg of the substance by 1°C.
Energy required = mass × specific heat capacity × increase in temperature, E = m × c × θ
Where c = specific heat capacity