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Leaving Cert Physics: Heat capacity

How often Heat capacity comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

OL Asked on 7 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Heat capacity, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Heat capacity.

(a)Unit of specific heat capacity?
  1. J kg⁻¹
  2. J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹
  3. J K⁻¹
(b)Energy needed to raise 2.0 kg of water by 10 K (c = 4180 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹)?
  1. 41 800 J
  2. 8360 J
  3. 83 600 J
(c)Why is water used as the coolant in a car engine and in storage heaters?
  1. It has a very high specific heat capacity
  2. It has a very low boiling point
  3. It has a very low specific heat capacity
Show the answers

(a) J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹

(b) 83 600 J

(c) It has a very high specific heat capacity

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Heat capacity.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Q10
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Q5, Q11
2021Q9
2019Not asked
2018Q8
2017Not asked
2016Q7

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Heat capacity questions

Heat capacity, 3 marks

Define specific heat capacity.

  1. The energy needed to change 1 kg of a substance from solid to liquid
  2. The energy needed to raise any mass of the substance by 1 K
  3. The energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 K
Show the answer

The energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 K

Q = mcΔθ, and the unit is J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹. Water has a very high value, 4180 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹.

Heat capacity, 2 marks

What is the heat capacity of an object (not its specific heat capacity)?

  1. The total energy stored in the object at 0 °C
  2. The energy needed to raise the object by 1 K
  3. The energy needed to raise 1 kg of it by 1 K
Show the answer

The energy needed to raise the object by 1 K

Heat capacity (J K⁻¹) belongs to a whole object. Specific heat capacity (J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹) is per kilogram of the material. Heat capacity = mass × c.

Heat capacity, 3 marks

0.50 kg of a metal cools from 80 °C to 20 °C and gives out 13 500 J. What is its specific heat capacity?

  1. 450 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹
  2. 225 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹
  3. 900 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹
Show the answer

450 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹

c = Q ÷ (mΔθ) = 13 500 ÷ (0.50 × 60) = 450 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ (about right for iron). 225 forgets the mass; 900 halves the mass instead.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 7 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q8
2025Not asked
2024Q3
2023Not asked
2022Q4
2021Not asked
2019Q8
2018Q12(c)
2017Q2, Q12(b)
2016Q9

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Heat capacity questions

Heat capacity, 3 marks

Define the heat capacity of a body.

  1. The energy needed to raise 1 kg of the body by 1 K
  2. The total amount of heat energy stored inside the body
  3. The energy needed to raise the temperature of the body by 1 K
Show the answer

The energy needed to raise the temperature of the body by 1 K

Heat capacity (J K⁻¹) is for the whole body. The energy for 1 kg is the specific heat capacity (J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹).

Heat capacity, 3 marks

Energy needed to raise 0.5 kg of copper by 20 K (c = 390 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹)?

  1. 15 600 J
  2. 3900 J
  3. 7800 J
Show the answer

3900 J

Q = mcΔθ = 0.5 × 390 × 20 = 3900 J. 7800 leaves out the 0.5 kg.

Heat capacity, 2 marks

Which formula gives the heat needed to raise the temperature of a mass m?

  1. Q = mcΔθ
  2. Q = ml
  3. Q = mgh
Show the answer

Q = mcΔθ

m = mass, c = specific heat capacity, Δθ = rise in temperature. Q = ml is for a change of state, where the temperature does not change.

Other Physics topics

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