Question #30c66

1 Answer
SCooke
Apr 11, 2016

We call '#c_v#' the specific heat because it is the heat capacity of a substance divided by its mass, and all “specific” properties are properties per unit mass, or mass-specific properties.

Explanation:

This can be seen from the dimensions of each term. J/'K – Heat Capacity , and J/kg-'K - Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a certain mass by 1 degree Celsius.
A further detailed analysis of the physics can be read here:

http://www.calpoly.edu/~gthorncr/ME302/documents/csubv.pdf

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