When dealing with energy calculations involving heating substances, one often uses the specific heat capacity formula, which is expressed as:\[ E = mc\Delta T \]Here's a breakdown of each component:
- \( E \) is the energy required to change the temperature, measured in joules (J).
- \( m \) is the mass of the substance being heated, typically in kilograms (kg).
- \( c \) is the specific heat capacity, which indicates how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of the substance by 1°C, and is measured in J/(kg°C).
- \( \Delta T \) is the change in temperature, expressed in degrees Celsius (°C).
In our example, the mass and the specific heat capacity of iron are not explicitly given, but they remain unchanged as the temperature increases. Therefore, when the change in temperature doubles (from 25°C to 50°C and then from 25°C to 75°C), the energy needed doubles as well. Thus, if it takes 103 J to increase the temperature by 25°C, it will require 206 J to increase it by 50°C.