Heat Transfer Calculator

Calculate heat transfer using Q = mcΔT formula

Calculate

Choose what to calculate

Input Values

Enter known values

Mass (m) - kilograms

Specific Heat Capacity (c) - J/(kg·°C)

Temperature Change (ΔT) - °C

Use positive for heating, negative for cooling

Common Examples

Heating 1 kg water by 10°C

m = 1 kg, c = 4186 J/(kg·°C), ΔT = 10°C → Q = 41,860 J

Heating 2 kg aluminum by 50°C

m = 2 kg, c = 900 J/(kg·°C), ΔT = 50°C → Q = 90,000 J

Cooling 0.5 kg copper by 20°C

m = 0.5 kg, c = 385 J/(kg·°C), ΔT = -20°C → Q = -3,850 J

Specific Heat Capacities

Water4186 J/(kg·°C)

Ice2090 J/(kg·°C)

Steam2010 J/(kg·°C)

Aluminum900 J/(kg·°C)

Copper385 J/(kg·°C)

Iron450 J/(kg·°C)

Glass840 J/(kg·°C)

Air1005 J/(kg·°C)

Result

Calculated heat energy

41,860

Joules (J)

= 41.86 kJ

Heat Transfer Formula

Q = m × c × ΔT

Heat = Mass × Specific Heat × Temperature Change

Q = Heat Energy (Joules)

m = Mass (kilograms)

c = Specific Heat Capacity (J/(kg·°C))

ΔT = Temperature Change (°C or K)

Calculating: Q = 1 kg × 4186 J/(kg·°C) × 10°C = 41,860 J

Key Concepts

Specific Heat Capacity:

Energy needed to raise 1 kg of a substance by 1°C

Joule (J):

SI unit of energy. 1 kJ = 1000 J, 1 MJ = 1,000,000 J

Temperature Change:

ΔT = T_final - T_initial (positive for heating, negative for cooling)

Water's High Specific Heat:

Water requires more energy to heat than most substances

About Heat Transfer Calculator

Heat Transfer Equation

This calculator uses the fundamental heat transfer equation Q = mcΔT, which calculates the amount of thermal energy required to change the temperature of a substance. This principle is essential in thermodynamics and thermal physics.

Features

Calculate heat energy from mass, specific heat, and temperature change
Calculate mass from heat energy and other parameters
Calculate specific heat capacity from experimental data
Calculate temperature change from heat energy
Quick presets for common materials (water, metals, etc.)
Support for heating and cooling calculations
Automatic unit conversions (J, kJ, MJ)
Real-world examples and material properties

Understanding Heat Transfer

Heat transfer is the movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another. The amount of energy required depends on the mass of the substance, its specific heat capacity (how easily it heats up), and the desired temperature change. Different materials require different amounts of energy to change temperature.