Background Thermal mass

the equation relating thermal energy thermal mass is:

q
=

c


t
h



Δ
t



{\displaystyle q=c_{\mathrm {th} }\delta t\,}

where q thermal energy transferred, cth thermal mass of body, , Δt change in temperature.

for example, if 250 j of heat energy added copper gear thermal mass of 38.46 j/°c, temperature rise 6.50 °c. if body consists of homogeneous material sufficiently known physical properties, thermal mass mass of material present times specific heat capacity of material. bodies made of many materials, sum of heat capacities pure components may used in calculation, or in cases (as whole animal, example) number may measured entire body in question, directly.

as extensive property, heat capacity characteristic of object; corresponding intensive property specific heat capacity, expressed in terms of measure of amount of material such mass or number of moles, must multiplied similar units give heat capacity of entire body of material. heat capacity can equivalently calculated product of mass m of body , specific heat capacity c material, or product of number of moles of molecules present n , molar specific heat capacity






c
¯





{\displaystyle {\bar {c}}}

. discussion of why thermal energy storage abilities of pure substances vary, see factors affect specific heat capacity.

for body of uniform composition,




c

t
h




{\displaystyle c_{th}}

can approximated by

c

t
h


=
m

c

p




{\displaystyle c_{th}=mc_{p}}

where



m


{\displaystyle m}

mass of body ,




c

p




{\displaystyle c_{p}}

isobaric specific heat capacity of material averaged on temperature range in question. bodies composed of numerous different materials, thermal masses different components can added together.