Specific Heat Capacity (definition of BTU basis)

Defines a substance’s resistance to sensible heat. Water sets the standard at 1.0 BTU/lb·°F, the reference against which all other materials are measured.

$$c_p=\frac{Q}{m\times \Delta T}$$

Variables

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
$c_p$	Specific heat capacity	BTU/lb·°F
Q	Heat added	BTU
m	Mass	lb
$\Delta T$	Temperature change	°F

Worked example

One match (about 1 BTU) raises one pound of water by 1°F (c_p = 1.0), but raises one pound of metal (c_p about 0.1) by nearly 10°F.

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Part of The Blueprint of Water