This key facts covers Key SHC Values — LEARN THESE! within Specific Heat Capacity for GCSE Physics. Revise Specific Heat Capacity in Energy for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 13 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 3 of 15 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 3 of 15
Practice
15 questions
Recall
13 flashcards
📊 Key SHC Values — LEARN THESE!
| Material | SHC (J/kg°C) | Heating behaviour |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 4,200 | Very slow to heat/cool — ideal for heating systems |
| Oil | 2,000 | Slower than metals, faster than water |
| Aluminium | 900 | Heats fairly quickly — used in cookware |
| Copper | 385 | Heats very quickly — excellent heat conductor |
| Lead | 130 | Heats extremely fast |
Why water's high SHC (4200) matters:
- Central heating — water carries lots of thermal energy around your house
- Car cooling systems — absorbs heat from engine without temperature rising too much
- Hot water bottles — stores lots of energy, releases slowly overnight
- Coastal climate — seas moderate temperature swings between seasons