Thermal Properties of Matter
Class 11 · Thermal Properties of Matter

Heat ↔ Temperature

Q = mcΔT — same heat ≠ same ΔT (depends on c).

Key Notes

01

HEAT (Q) and TEMPERATURE (T) are different physical quantities.

02

TEMPERATURE: average kinetic energy of molecules (a measure, like 'velocity').

03

HEAT: energy transferred due to temperature difference (a flow, like 'distance').

04

Heat flows SPONTANEOUSLY from hot to cold body — equilibrating temperatures.

05

Units: Q in joules (J) or calories (1 cal = 4.184 J). T in Kelvin or Celsius.

06

Specific heat capacity c: heat needed per kg per K. Q = m·c·ΔT.

07

Water has very high c (~4186 J/kg·K) — that's why oceans moderate climate.

08

Heat capacity C = m·c — heat needed to raise the WHOLE body by 1 K.

09

Body temperature depends on how heat is shared among DEGREES OF FREEDOM (equipartition theorem).

Formulas

Heat-temperature relation

Heat needed to change temperature by ΔT.

Heat capacity

Total heat to raise whole body by 1 K.

Specific heat of water

Reference value; very high.

Calorie conversion

Useful for nutritional calorie comparisons.

Important Points

Heat is ENERGY FLOW; temperature is STATE.

When you say 'this body has heat', it's loose language — bodies have INTERNAL ENERGY, transfer HEAT.

Water's high c means it heats and cools slowly — oceans absorb huge heat without much T change.

Same Q applied to two materials: smaller c ⇒ larger ΔT.

Specific heat depends on the SUBSTANCE; heat capacity depends on AMOUNT plus substance.

Calorie (small c) is energy unit. Calorie (capital C) is 1000 cal — used for food labels.

Heat ↔ Temperature notes from sciphylab (also known as SciPhy, SciPhy Lab, SciPhy Labs, Physics Lab). Class 11 physics revision for JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, NEET UG, AP Physics 1/2/C, SAT, and CUET-UG.