What is defined as 'specific heat capacity'?

Specific heat capacity refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. This concept is crucial in thermodynamics and materials science, as it helps determine how different materials respond to heat transfer.

When heat is added to a substance, the specific heat capacity indicates how much energy is needed to achieve a certain temperature change. For instance, substances with a high specific heat capacity require more energy to increase in temperature compared to those with a low specific heat capacity. This property is essential in various applications, such as in engineering when designing heating and cooling systems, as well as understanding thermal management in processes involving materials.

The other options describe different thermal concepts. The first option pertains to latent heat, which involves phase changes such as melting or boiling. The third option relates to heat transfer rates in systems, which is not the same as specific heat capacity. The fourth option speaks about the total energy content of a system rather than the energy required for temperature change of a specific mass.