Sensible Heat CalculatorFree online other calculator — instant results, no sign-up
Calculate heat needed for a temperature rise without a phase change.
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About the Sensible Heat Calculator
The Sensible Heat Calculator estimates the heat needed to raise a material’s temperature without changing its phase. It uses mass, specific heat, and temperature increase to calculate energy in kilojoules. With the default inputs of 2 kg, 4184 J/(kg·K), and 20 K, the required sensible heat is 167.36 kJ.
- Mass (kg)
- The mass of the material being heated, measured in kilograms (kg), with a default of 2 kg.
- Specific heat (J/(kg·K))
- The energy needed to raise one kilogram of the material by one kelvin, measured in J/(kg·K), with a default of 4184 J/(kg·K).
- Temperature increase (K)
- The final temperature minus the initial temperature, measured in kelvins (K), with a default increase of 20 K.
Formula and method
Q = m × c × ΔT; Q in kJ = Q in J ÷ 1000. With the defaults: Q = 2 × 4184 × 20 = 167360 J = 167.36 kJ.
- QSensible heat transferred to the material, calculated in joules (J) and displayed in kilojoules (kJ).
- mMass of the material in kilograms (kg).
- cSpecific heat capacity of the material in joules per kilogram per kelvin, J/(kg·K).
- ΔTTemperature increase, equal to final temperature minus initial temperature, in kelvins (K).
Multiply the mass by the specific heat capacity and the temperature increase to obtain the sensible heat in joules. Divide by 1000 to convert to kilojoules. For the default inputs, 2 × 4184 × 20 gives 167360 J, or 167.36 kJ.
Worked example
These are the calculator's starting values and the results it actually produces for them.
Inputs
- Mass2 kg
- Specific heat4184 J/(kg·K)
- Temperature increase20 K
Results
- Result167.36 kJ
How to use the Sensible Heat Calculator
- 1Enter the mass of the material in kilograms; the default is 2 kg.
- 2Enter a specific heat capacity appropriate to the material and heating conditions; the default is 4184 J/(kg·K).
- 3Subtract the initial temperature from the final temperature and enter the increase in kelvins; the default is 20 K.
- 4Check that the material remains in the same phase throughout the temperature rise, then calculate.
- 5Read the heat result in kilojoules; the default inputs produce 167.36 kJ.
Reading your result
The Result row reports the sensible heat required by the material in kilojoules. A result of 167.36 kJ means that 2 kg of material with a specific heat of 4184 J/(kg·K) must absorb that much energy to warm by 20 K. This is energy, not heater power or heating time, and it does not include heat lost to the surroundings.
Limitations
The calculation assumes constant mass, approximately constant specific heat over the temperature range, and no phase change or chemical reaction. Use a specific heat appropriate to the material and process conditions, such as constant-pressure heating where applicable. If specific heat varies substantially with temperature, a temperature-dependent calculation is needed. The result excludes energy used to heat the container and heat losses, so actual heater energy consumption may be higher.
Common questions
Can I use a temperature rise in degrees Celsius instead of kelvins?+
Yes. A temperature difference has the same numerical value in degrees Celsius and kelvins, so a rise of 20 °C can be entered as 20 K. Enter the temperature difference, not the final temperature.
Is the default specific heat of 4184 J/(kg·K) suitable for every material?+
No. It is a commonly used approximate value for liquid water. Use a material-specific value for other substances, and remember that even water’s specific heat varies with temperature and pressure.
Does this calculator include the heat needed to melt or boil a substance?+
No. It calculates only sensible heat within a single phase. If melting or boiling occurs, calculate the sensible heating portions separately and add the latent heat needed for the phase change.
Does 167.36 kJ tell me how long a heater will take?+
Not by itself. Heating time also requires the effective power delivered to the material. For constant effective power, divide 167.36 kJ by that power in kJ/s to obtain time in seconds; heat losses and container heating can increase the actual time.
Does the calculator save my information?+
Calculations run in your browser. While signed in, inputs and results are automatically recorded in account history; saving a result creates a separate saved record.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes and are not financial, medical or legal advice.