Heat Transfer Calculator

Heat transfer is the movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another due to temperature difference. The amount of energy transferred depends on the mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change according to Q = mcΔT.

Specific heat capacity (c) is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a substance by 1°C. Water has a high specific heat (4184 J/kg·°C), meaning it takes a lot of energy to change its temperature, which is why it's used in cooling systems.

Q is negative when ΔT is negative, meaning the temperature decreases. Negative Q indicates the substance is losing heat energy (cooling down). Positive Q means the substance is gaining heat energy (heating up). The sign tells you the direction of energy flow.

1 kJ = 1000 J (divide by 1000). 1 calorie = 4.184 J (divide by 4.184). Note: dietary Calories (with capital C) are actually kilocalories: 1 Cal = 1000 cal = 4184 J. The calculator shows all three units for convenience.

This calculator is for heating/cooling within a single phase (solid, liquid, or gas). Phase changes (melting, boiling, freezing, condensing) require additional energy called latent heat, which isn't included in the Q = mcΔT formula. Use phase change calculators for those scenarios.

Water has one of the highest specific heat capacities (4184 J/kg·°C), meaning it requires a lot of energy to change its temperature. This property makes water excellent for cooling systems and explains why coastal areas have more moderate temperatures than inland regions.