Sensible Heat Calculator — Q = mcΔT
Calculate the heat energy absorbed or released by a substance when its temperature changes — no phase change involved. Enter the mass, specific heat capacity, and the temperature change to get the result in kJ, J, kcal, and BTU.
kg
kJ/(kg·K)
°C / K
Energy transferred without a phase change (Q = m · c · ΔT)
- 1
m × c
1 kg × 4.186 kJ/(kg·K) = 4.186 kJ/K - 2
Sensible heat Q = m·c·ΔT
4.186 × 20 = 83.720
How does this calculator work?
Sensible heat Q = m · c · ΔT, where m is mass (kg), c is specific heat capacity in kJ/(kg·K) (water = 4.186, steel = 0.49, air = 1.005), and ΔT is the temperature change in °C or K. A positive result means heat absorbed; negative means heat released. Outputs in kJ, J, kcal and BTU.
Formula
How this is calculated
Sensible heat is the energy transferred to or from a substance that causes a temperature change but no change of phase (liquid to gas, etc.). The formula Q = m · c · ΔT relates three quantities: mass m (in kg), the material's specific heat capacity c (in kJ per kilogram per kelvin), and the temperature change ΔT (in °C or K, since a one-degree Celsius change equals a one-kelvin change).
The specific heat capacity c depends on the material. Water has one of the highest values at about 4.186 kJ/(kg·K), meaning it takes a large amount of energy to change its temperature — which is why oceans moderate climate. Air is much lower at about 1.005 kJ/(kg·K), while metals like steel (~0.49) and aluminium (~0.897) sit in between. Enter your material's value, or pick from common defaults.
A positive Q means heat is absorbed by the substance (heating); a negative Q means heat is released (cooling). The calculator converts the result to joules, kilocalories (dietary Calories × 1000), and BTU for comparison. Assumptions: constant specific heat capacity over the temperature range, and no phase transition occurring.
Frequently asked questions
Sensible heat changes the temperature of a substance without a phase change, following Q = mcΔT. Latent heat changes the phase (melting, boiling) at a constant temperature, following Q = mL where L is the specific latent heat. This calculator covers only sensible heat.
The Celsius and Kelvin scales use the same degree size — they differ only in where zero is placed. A change of 1 °C is exactly a change of 1 K, so the formula works with either unit for temperature difference.
Common values: water 4.186, ice 2.09, steam 2.01, air 1.005, wood ~1.7, concrete ~0.88, aluminium 0.897, glass ~0.84, steel ~0.49, copper 0.385, gold 0.129 kJ/(kg·K). Reference tables for your exact material and temperature range for precision work.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Sensible Heat Calculator — Q = mcΔT [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sensible-heat-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Sensible Heat Calculator — Q = mcΔT." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sensible-heat-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Sensible Heat Calculator — Q = mcΔT," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sensible-heat-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_sensible_heat_calculator, title = {Sensible Heat Calculator — Q = mcΔT}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/sensible-heat-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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