Question

suppose the same amount of heat is applied to two bars. they have the same mass, but experience different changes in temperature. are the specific heat capacities the same for the two bars? explain.

Answer 1

If both bars are made of a good conductor, then their specific heat capacities must be different. If both are metals, specific heat capacities of different metals can vary by quite a bit, eg, both are in kJ/kgK, Potassium is 0.13, and Lithium is very high at 3.57 - both of these are quite good conductors.

If one of the bars is a good conductor and the other is a good insulator, then, after the surface application of heat, the temperatures at the surfaces are almost bound to be different. This is because the heat will be rapidly conducted into the body of the conducting bar, soon achieving a constant temperature throughout the bar. Whereas, with the insulator, the heat will tend to stay where it's put, heating the bar considerably over that area. As the heat slowly conducts into the bar, it will also start to cool from its surface, because it's so hot, and even if it has the same heat capacity as the other bar, which might be possible, it will eventually reach a lower, steady temperature throughout.