Heat Capacity

[Brandon Yu]

How does dividing heat capacity by grams turn it from an extensive property to an intensive one?

[jaycmartinezDisc3b]

Hey! This is because heat capacity by itself only describes the amount of energy required to raise a given object 1c. Now obviously, this would depend on the mass of the object, as the heat capacity of 1 gram wouldn't be the same as something like a building. Therefore, by dividing out grams, you are using a ratio, rather than accounting individually for the amount of substance. Since this is a ratio (like in equilibrium) it really doesn't matter how much you have of it, so it would be an intensive property. Hope this helps :)

[emily3L]

Dividing heat capacity by grams gives the specific heat capacity, meaning it is the heat capacity per gram. Therefore, it is independent of the amount of substance, making it an intensive property.

[Achyutha Kodavatikanti_3H]

dividing heat capacity by grams makes it intensive. it creates a ratio that stays the same no matter the "size"

[Kayla Tran 3C]

Dividing heat capacity (J/K) by grams turns it into specific heat capacity (J/(kg*K)). Heat capacity depends on the object's mass. Specific heat capacity is an intensive property because it is a ratio, so we don't need to worry about the amount of substance.