Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of an object by 1˚C. The formula that uses specific heat is Q = mc∆T, where Q is heat energy, c is specific heat, and ∆T is the change in temperature. The amount of heat energy depends on the mass, or the size of an object, and the specific heat capacity, which depends on the substance it is made from. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.184 J/g°C. This is a very high specific heat capacity compared to other substances, such as metals. Gold, for example, has a heat capacity of 0.128 J/g°C. Water’s high heat capacity means that it can be used to regulate temperatures in a variety of different ways. …show more content…
This means that it takes a long time to heat water and a long time to cool it. Water’s specific heat capacity causes it to resist sudden changes in temperature. This resistance to change is very important in people because their bodies are 70% water. The water inside them has a high heat capacity and can help to regulate internal body temperature. The average body temperature of a human is 98.6°F or 37°C. The heat capacity of water keeps body temperatures near this value, instead of fluctuating dramatically when people travel or