specific heat
the number of calories required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance 1°C, or the number of BTU's per pound per degree F.
(originally) the ratio of the thermal capacity of a substance to that of standard material.
Origin of specific heat
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use specific heat in a sentence
It does not rust, has a low specific heat, and is therefore raised to a higher temperature with less heat imparted.
Steam Steel and Electricity | James W. SteeleSteam, on the contrary, from its great specific heat, remains in a heated state for a much longer time than air.
Although styled volatile oils, the tension of their vapour, as well as its specific heat, is much less than that of water.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew UreFlatirons are made of iron because of the relatively high specific heat of iron.
General Science | Bertha M. ClarkWe now proceed to discuss molecular heats of compounds, that is, the product of the molecular weight into the specific heat.
Scientific definitions for specific heat
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for specific heat
The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius, or to raise the temperature of one pound of a substance by one degree Fahrenheit (see also Fahrenheit).
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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