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AE A403/603 Arctic Engineering Heat Energy Parameters 10/16/2015

Heat Energy Parameters


after PTC MathCAD ebook on College Physics, based on Schaum's Outline: Theory and
Problems of College Physics, 8th ed., 2004. McGraw-Hill

HEAT is a form of energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule. Other units used for heat are the
calorie (1 cal = 4.184 J) and the British thermal unit (1 Btu = 1054 J). The "Calorie" used by
nutritionists is called the "large calorie" and is actually a kilocalorie (1 Cal = 103 cal).

THE SPECIFIC HEAT (or specific heat capacity, c) of a substance is the quantity of heat
required to change the temperature of unit mass of the substance by one degree.

If a quantity of heat DQ is required to produce a temperature change DT in a mass m of


substance, then the specific heat

c= or Q = c m T
Q
m T

In the SI, c has unit J/kg-K, which is equivalent to J/kg-C. Also widely used is the unit
cal/g-C, where 1cal/g-C = 4184 J/kg-C.

Each substance has its own specific heat, which varies slightly with temperature. For
water, c = 4180 J/kg-C = 1 cal/g-C. Specific heats of other materials are listed in the
tables below.
Adapted from Donald R. Pitts and Leighton E. Sissom, Heat Transfer,
Physical Properties of Gases Schaum's Outline Series (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1977).

Gas Density Molecular Viscosity Specific Heat


r (kg/m3) Weight M h (J/kg-K)
@ STP (kg/kmole) (kg/m-sec) cp cv

Air 1.29 28.8 1.810-5 1.0103 7.1102


Carbon 1.25 28.0 1.710-5 1.1103 7.5102
Monoxide (CO)
Helium (He) 0.18 4.0 1.910-5 5.2103 3.1103
Hydrogen(H2) 0.09 2.02 0.810-5 1.4104 1.0104
Methane(CH4) 0.72 16.0 1.010-5 2.5103 1.7103
Nitrogen(N2) 1.25 28.0 1.710-5 1.0103 7.5102
Oxygen(O2) 1.43 32.0 1.910-5 9.2102 6.6102
Water (H2O) 0.59 18.0 1.310-5 2.0103 1.5103

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AE A403/603 Arctic Engineering Heat Energy Parameters 10/16/2015

Adapted from Donald R. Pitts and Leighton E. Sissom, Heat Transfer,


Physical Properties of Liquids * Schaum's Outline Series (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1977).

Liquid Density Molecular Viscosity Specific Heat


r(kg/m 3) Mass M h (kJ/kg)
@ 20C (kg/kmole) (kg/m-sec) @ 20C
Blood 1.005103 ~18 4.010-3 4.2
Glycerin 1.26103 92.09 1.4910-3 2.43
Mercury 1.36104 200.59 1.510-2 1.38
Oil ~8102 varies ~2 1.5
Seawater 1.02510 3 ~18 810 -3 4.2
Turpentine 8.87102 0.87 1.710-3 1.76
Water 1.00103 18.0 1.0110-3 4.217

Adapted from Alvin Halpern , Beginning Physics I: Mechanics


Thermodynamic Properties of Materials * and Heat, Schaum's Outline Series, (McGraw-Hill, New York,
1995).

Material Specific Heat of Heat of


Heat Fusion Vaporization
(J/kg-K) Hf (kJ/kg) Hv (kJ/kg)

Aluminum 920 397 1.14104


Copper 389 134 5.06103
Gold 130 64.5 1578
Helium - 5.23 20.9
Iron 502 - -
Nitrogen - 25.5 20.1
Platinum 134 112 2.62103
Pyrex 837 - -
Steel 460 - -
Water 209 (Ice) 335 2256

THE HEAT CAPACITY (or water equivalent) of a body is the quantity of heat required to
raise the temperature of the whole body by one degree. From its definition, the heat
capacity of an object of mass m and a specific heat c is mc.

THE HEAT GAINED (OR LOST) by a body of mass m and specific heat c whose phase
does not change is, for a temperature change DT,

Q = m c T

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AE A403/603 Arctic Engineering Heat Energy Parameters 10/16/2015

THE HEAT OF FUSION (Hf ) of a crystalline solid is the quantity of heat required to melt a
unit of mass of the solid at constant temperature. It is also equal to the quantity of heat
given off by a unit mass of the molten solid as it crystallizes at this same temperature. The
heat of fusion of water at 0 C is about 33 kJ/kg or 80 cal/gm. Heats of fusion, vaporization
and sublimation for various materials are listed in the Detail Popup at left.

THE HEAT OF VAPORIZATION (Hv) of a liquid is the quantity of heat required to vaporize a
unit mass of the liquid at constant temperature. For water at 100 C, Hv is about 2.26 MJ/kg
or 540 cal/g.

THE HEAT OF SUBLIMATION of a solid substance is the quantity of heat required to convert
a unit mass of the substance from the solid to the gaseous state at constant temperature.

CALORIMETRY PROBLEMS involve the sharing of heat energy among initial hot objects
and cold objects. Since energy must be conserved, one can always write the following
equation;

Sum of heat changes for all objects = 0.

This assumes that no heat energy is lost from the system.

ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY is the mass of water vapor present per unit volume of gas (usually
the atmosphere). Typical units are kg/m3 and gm/cm3.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY (R.H.) is the ratio obtained by dividing the mass of water vapor per
unit volume present in the air by the mass of water vapor per unit volume present in
saturated air at the same temperature. When it is expressed as a percentage, the ratio is
multiplied by 100.

DEW POINT: Cooler air at saturation contains less water than warmer air does at saturation.
When air is cooled, it eventually reaches a temperature at which it is saturated. This
temperature is called the dew point. At temperatures lower than this, water condenses out of
the air.

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