Heat Capacity 1. Introduction

摘要

Elementary concepts of heat capacity are reviewed, and the important role of heat capacity in the thermodynamic studies of materials is explained. The definition of heat capacity is given at first, and the peculiar properties of liquid water are pointed out on the basis of classical thermodynamics. At low temperatures, the heat capacity of solids is described by quantum mechanics, and the Einstein and Debye models are introduced in this regard. The heat capacity of solids is described with some examples from new functional materials.