1. What is a Heat Absorbed Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the amount of heat energy absorbed or released by a substance using its mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change.

Purpose: It's useful in thermodynamics, chemistry, and engineering to calculate heat transfer in various processes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Heat absorbed or released (Joules)
• \( m \) — Mass of the substance (kilograms)
• \( c \) — Specific heat capacity (J/kg·K)
• \( \Delta T \) — Temperature change (Kelvin)

Explanation: The formula calculates the thermal energy required to change a substance's temperature based on its properties.

3. Importance of Heat Calculation

Details: Accurate heat calculations are essential for designing heating/cooling systems, chemical reactions, and energy efficiency assessments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the mass in kg, specific heat capacity (default 4186 J/kg·K for water), and temperature change in Kelvin. All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a negative Q value mean?
A: A negative value indicates heat is released (exothermic process) rather than absorbed.

Q2: Why use Kelvin for temperature change?
A: The Kelvin scale is absolute and ensures correct calculations, though ΔT is the same in Celsius.

Q3: What's the specific heat of common materials?
A: Water=4186 J/kg·K, Aluminum=900 J/kg·K, Iron=450 J/kg·K, Ice=2100 J/kg·K.

Q4: Can I use this for phase changes?
A: No, this only calculates sensible heat. Phase changes require latent heat calculations.

Q5: How precise should my inputs be?
A: For most applications, 2-3 significant figures are sufficient.