Thermal capacity is a term used to describe a material's ability to absorb and store heat. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable is pronounced as "θɜːrməl," with the "th" sound represented by the symbol "θ." The second syllable is "kəˈpæsəti," with the stress on the second syllable, and the "c" in "capacity" pronounced as "k" as in "kilo." Remembering the IPA representations of these sounds can help ensure accurate spelling of the word "thermal capacity."
Thermal capacity refers to the amount of heat energy that a substance or object can store or absorb before its temperature changes. It is a measure of the substance's ability to hold or release thermal energy. The term is often used interchangeably with heat capacity.
Thermal capacity is expressed as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by a specific amount. It is typically measured in units of energy per degree Celsius (or Kelvin), such as joules per degree Celsius (J/°C) or calories per degree Celsius (cal/°C). The higher the thermal capacity of a substance, the more heat energy it can absorb without experiencing a significant rise in temperature.
Different substances have different thermal capacities due to variations in their molecular structure and composition. For example, materials with a high thermal capacity, such as water and metals like copper, can store large amounts of thermal energy. This allows them to absorb heat energy from their surroundings without experiencing a drastic temperature change, making them efficient at regulating temperatures.
Thermal capacity is an important property in various fields, including engineering, chemistry, and physics. It helps in determining the appropriate materials for specific applications, such as designing cooling systems, calculating heat transfer rates, and understanding the behavior of substances under changing temperatures.
• The amount of heat absorbed by a body in being raised 1° C. in temperature.
• The amount of heat required to raise any body from 0° to 1° C.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "thermal" is derived from the Greek word "thermos", meaning heat or warm. It was first used in English in the 1740s. The word "capacity" comes from the Latin word "capacitas", which means the ability to hold or contain. When combined, "thermal capacity" refers to the heat-holding or heat-containing ability of a substance or system.