The specific heat capacity of a uniform copper sphere of mass 2\text{ kg} is twice that of… — JAMB UTME

The specific heat capacity of a uniform copper sphere of mass $2\text{ kg}$ is twice that of a uniform copper sphere of mass $1\text{ kg}$ at the same temperature.

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Answer

False. Specific heat capacity is an intensive property of a substance and is independent of the mass of the object.

The statement is false because specific heat capacity is an intensive property of matter. It measures the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of

1\text{ kg}

of a substance by

1\text{ K}

(or

1^\circ\text{C}

). Because it is normalized per unit mass, specific heat capacity depends only on the chemical nature and state of the material, not on the total mass of the object.

Step-by-Step Solution

Distinguish between heat capacity and specific heat capacity.

Heat capacity (

C = mc

) is an extensive property that depends on the mass of the body, whereas specific heat capacity (

c = \frac{Q}{m\Delta T}

) is an intensive property characteristic of the material itself.

To identify whether mass affects specific heat capacity.

Apply the concept of intensive properties to the two copper spheres.

Since both spheres are composed of the same material (pure copper), their specific heat capacities are identical regardless of their difference in mass.

Intensive physical properties do not change with mass or sample size.

Key Concept

Intensive vs Extensive Thermal Properties

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