The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 10kg of Copper by 1K is its

Analyze the question: The question asks for the name of the heat needed to raise the temperature of a given mass (10 kg of copper) by 1 K.

Explain the concept:

• Specific heat capacity (c): heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 K. Unit: J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹.
• Heat capacity (C): heat needed to raise the temperature of a given body or mass by 1 K. Unit: J K⁻¹. Formula: C = mc.
• Latent heat: heat absorbed or released during a change of state, with no change in temperature.
• Internal energy: the total kinetic and potential energy of the molecules in a substance.

Solution: The question specifies 10 kg, not 1 kg, so it is not the specific heat capacity. The temperature rises by 1 K, so it is not latent heat. The heat needed to raise the temperature of the whole 10 kg object by 1 K is its heat capacity:

C = mc = 10 kg × c (copper)

For copper, c ≈ 390 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹, so C ≈ 3900 J K⁻¹.

Answer: The heat capacity of the 10 kg block, which is option C.

Tip: Look at the mass in the question.

• "Per 1 kg" means specific heat capacity.
• "A given object or mass" means heat capacity.

Remember: heat capacity = mass × specific heat capacity.