Heat Capacity Converter
Convert between different units of heat capacity with precision and ease.
Heat Capacity Converter
Instant conversion between heat capacity units
⚡ Popular Conversions
About Heat Capacity Conversion
SI Units
Standard international heat capacity units.
- • J/K - Base SI unit
- • kJ/K - For larger objects
- • 1 J/K - Energy per temperature change
- • Widely used - Scientific calculations
CGS Units
Calorie-based heat capacity units.
- • cal/K - Traditional unit
- • kcal/K - Food energy context
- • 1 cal/K - 4.184 J/K
- • Legacy use - Older literature
Imperial Units
US engineering heat capacity units.
- • BTU/°F - Common in HVAC
- • BTU/°R - Absolute temperature
- • 1 BTU/°F - 1899.1 J/K
- • Engineering - Building systems
Applications
Where heat capacity is used.
- • Thermodynamics - System design
- • Material science - Property analysis
- • HVAC systems - Heating/cooling
- • Chemistry - Reaction calorimetry
- • Energy storage - Thermal systems
Understanding Heat Capacity Units
Heat capacity is the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of an object by one degree, measured in J/K as the base SI unit. It is a fundamental thermal property that depends on both the material's specific heat and its mass.
In engineering applications, heat capacity calculations are essential for thermal system design, energy storage solutions, and HVAC equipment sizing. Understanding heat capacity helps engineers predict temperature changes in response to energy input or removal.
The distinction between heat capacity and specific heat capacity is important. Heat capacity is an extensive property (depends on amount), while specific heat capacity is intensive (per unit mass). Both are crucial for thermal analysis.
Imperial units like BTU/°F are commonly used in US HVAC and building systems. The BTU (British Thermal Unit) represents the energy needed to heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit under standard conditions.
Modern thermal analysis software requires accurate unit conversions for multi-physics simulations, energy efficiency calculations, and thermal management system design across different engineering disciplines and international standards.