What Is the Specific Heat of Water?

The specific heat of a substance is a measure of the amount of heat per unit mass transferred to the object that causes a one-degree increase in temperature. Objects with high specific heat, such as water, can absorb a large amount of heat before changing temperature. Objects with a low specific heat, such as metal, rapidly change temperature when heat is introduced. This relationship does not apply during a phase change, where high amounts of heat can be added without a change in temperature.