AIIMS 2018 Physics Specific Heat and Thermal Capacity Assertion Reason Question
Assertion: Specific heat of a body is always greater than its thermal capacity. Reason: Thermal capacity is the heat required for raising temperature of unit mass of the body through unit degree.
If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
If assertion is true but reason is false.
If both assertion and reason are false.
Correct Answer
Detailed Explanation
The assertion is false because the specific heat (c) of a body is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of unit mass of the substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin), while thermal capacity (C) is the total heat required to raise the temperature of the entire body, which is given by the product of specific heat and mass (C = mc). Therefore, thermal capacity can be greater than or equal to specific heat, depending on the mass of the body. The reason is also false because it inaccurately defines thermal capacity; it should state that thermal capacity is the heat required to raise the temperature of the entire body rather than per unit mass. Other options are incorrect as they rely on the assertion or reason being true, which they are not.
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