specific heat

specific heat

n.

1. The ratio of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one unit of temperature to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a similar mass of a reference material, usually water, by the same amount.

2. The amount of heat, measured in calories, required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one Celsius degree.

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specific heat

See under heat capacity.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

specific heat - the heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance one degree centigrade heat, heat energy - a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature