What does the term "specific heat" refer to?

The term "specific heat" refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. This property is important in thermodynamics because it determines how much energy is needed to change the temperature of a material. Different substances have varying specific heat capacities, which affects their thermal behavior under heating or cooling conditions. Understanding specific heat is crucial for HVAC/R professionals, as it helps in designing systems that can efficiently regulate temperature and manage heat transfer in various applications.