Question

If you hear that an object has “high heat content,” does that mean that its temperature is high? Explain.

Short answer

No, the object that has high heat content does not need to have a high temperature.

Step-by-step solution

Relationship between specific heat and heat energy

The relationship between the specific heat and heat energy of a substance is linear. Thus, for a higher value of the heat energy, the value of the specific heat of the substance is also higher.

Step 2:Explanation for why an object that has high heat content does not have a high temperature

Suppose two samples of different substances have equal masses and temperatures. Now, a certain amount of heat energy is given to both of them. It increases the temperature of both the samples but the sample having larger specific heat has a lower final temperature. However, the heat content is the same for both substances related to their initial state.

Thus, it is possible that an object composed of a material with very large specific heat has high heat content but not at a high temperature.