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QPage 76: Q2: HC Verma: Concepts of Physics - Volume 2 Specific Heat Capacities of Gases Page 76: Q2 Solution: Can we define specific heat capacity at constant temperature?

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students often incorrectly assume specific heat is zero or undefined due to lack of heat transfer, but for an ideal gas isothermal process, $\Delta T = 0$ while $\Delta Q \neq 0$, causing the ratio $C = \frac{\Delta Q}{\Delta T}$ to diverge to infinity rather than vanish.

Can we define specific heat capacity at constant temperature?

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** No, we cannot define specific heat capacity at constant temperature. **Step-by-Step Explanation:** Specific heat capacity is defined as s=1mΔQΔTs = \frac{1}{m}\frac{\Delta Q}{\Delta T}. For an isothermal process, ΔT=0\Delta T = 0 while ΔQ≠0\Delta Q \neq 0 (in general), so s→∞s \to \infty. Hence it is undefined [citation:2].

All Questions in this Chapter

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