0.50 kg of water is heated from 20 C to 80 C. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg C. Calculate the energy transferred to the water.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
All equation deep-dives
Specific heat capacity
Energy
AQA 8463
On the equation sheet
ORIGINAL
dE = m c d(theta)
The temperature CHANGE trips everyone — d(theta) is the difference, not the final temperature.
Current GCSE 8463 policy: The full AQA GCSE Physics 8463 equation sheet is provided with both papers in 2026; use fluency practice to learn selection and rearrangement, not to memorise the list.
Board and spec code confirmed against AQA 8463 · registry checked 2026-07-17How this checking works
Know the equation
| Symbol | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| dE | change in thermal energy | J |
| m | mass | kg |
| c | specific heat capacity | J/kg C |
| d(theta) | temperature change | C |
Rearrangements
- c = dE / (m d(theta))
- d(theta) = dE / (m c)
- m = dE / (c d(theta))
Apply it — mark your own working
Work each one out on paper first, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the marks you actually earned. That is exactly how you should mark past papers.
Q1
Do the calculation on paper first — then mark it.
Q2
A 2.0 kg metal block is given 23 000 J of energy and its temperature rises by 25 C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
Do the calculation on paper first — then mark it.
Where the marks get lost
- Putting the final temperature into d(theta) instead of the temperature change (here 60, not 80).
- Forgetting the mass must be in kg.
- When rearranging for c, dividing by only m or only d(theta) instead of by both (m x d(theta)).
Exam tip: Work out d(theta) as a separate first line and label it. That single step earns a mark and stops the whole calculation going wrong.
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I'll go through your working line by line and show you exactly where the marks are. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.
Stuck on specific heat capacity?
Everything here stays free. If specific heat capacity is where the marks keep going, I teach it one to one from the mark schemes. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.