How is the energy required to heat a substance calculated?

The energy required to heat a substance can be calculated using the formula q = Cs x m x ∆T. In this equation, q represents the amount of heat energy absorbed or released, Cs is the specific heat capacity of the substance (how much heat per unit mass is required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius), m is the mass of the substance, and ∆T is the change in temperature (final temperature minus initial temperature).

This formula is specifically useful because it incorporates all necessary factors that determine how much energy will be needed to change the temperature of a given mass of a substance. The specific heat capacity varies for different materials, meaning that substances with higher specific heat will require more energy to achieve the same temperature change compared to those with lower specific heat. The temperature change is critical as it directly influences the amount of energy required; a larger temperature change requires more energy input.

The other options involve different principles or relationships that do not directly apply to the heating of a substance. For instance, the formula involving pressure and volume pertains to gas laws and does not describe calorimetry or the heating process effectively. Therefore, the first option correctly describes how to calculate the energy needed for heating a substance based on its mass, specific heat capacity,