The specific heat of a substance can affect what aspect of heat transfer?

The specific heat of a substance refers to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of that substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). This property directly influences how much heat is absorbed or released during a temperature change.

When a substance has a high specific heat, it requires more energy to change its temperature, meaning it can absorb or release significant amounts of heat without experiencing large temperature fluctuations. Conversely, a substance with a low specific heat will heat up or cool down more quickly, absorbing or releasing less heat for a given temperature change.

Therefore, the correct response highlights that the specific heat affects the amount of heat that is transferred in relation to a temperature change, emphasizing the relationship between thermal energy and temperature variation in the material.