Question

In general, how do the values of specific heat capacity for gases differ from those for solids ?

Answer 1

In general specific heat(C) gives us an idea of the amount of energy(heat) we need to provide to a system in order to bring about a unit rise in the temperature of the system. It's value may vary depending on the process you are providing this energy. Hence we have two values of C namely Cv and Cp .But since liquids and solids can practically assumed to be incompressible, C_p and C_v for them have almost same values and hence only a single value of specific heat is used for them. Specific heat is a measure of the energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of the material by 1 degree C; this will be greater in the case of heating at constant pressure than it is when heating at constant volume.

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of unit mass of it by one degree. Its SI unit is J kg−1 K−1.

In general, the values of specific heat capacity of gases>solids