What is the definition of specific heat?

Specific heat is defined as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. This is a thermal property that varies depending on the substance being measured. Each material has its own specific heat capacity, and this value is determined through experimental methods. By measuring how much energy is needed to change the temperature of a specific amount of a substance, we gain insight into how that material interacts with thermal energy.

In contrast, a property that is constant for all substances does not accurately reflect the variability inherent in specific heat across different materials. While the concept of heat energy does relate to temperature changes and is an important aspect of thermodynamics, specific heat specifically focuses on the relationship between heat energy and temperature rise for a specific mass of a substance, rather than just being a general statement about energy. Lastly, the notion of heat energy of a substance at rest is misleading; specific heat pertains to the energy change associated with temperature changes, not merely the static heat energy of an object.