On a hot day, the beach sand gets hot but the water stays cool. Would you predict that the specific heat of sand is higher or lower than that of water? Explain. (3.6)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of specific heat: Specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. It is a measure of a substance's ability to absorb heat.
2. Consider the scenario: On a hot day, the beach sand gets hot while the water remains cool. This suggests that sand heats up more quickly than water.
3. Relate the scenario to specific heat: A substance with a lower specific heat will heat up and cool down more quickly than a substance with a higher specific heat.
4. Apply the concept to the scenario: Since the sand heats up more quickly than the water, it indicates that sand has a lower specific heat compared to water.
5. Conclude the prediction: Therefore, you would predict that the specific heat of sand is lower than that of water.

Key Concepts

Specific Heat Capacity

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is a crucial property that determines how substances respond to heat. Materials with high specific heat can absorb more heat without a significant change in temperature, while those with low specific heat heat up quickly.

Thermal Conductivity

Thermal conductivity refers to a material's ability to conduct heat. It influences how quickly heat is transferred through a substance. In the context of sand and water, sand has a lower thermal conductivity than water, which means it heats up faster when exposed to sunlight, while water retains its temperature longer due to its higher specific heat.

Heat Transfer and Temperature Change

Heat transfer occurs when thermal energy moves from a hotter object to a cooler one, resulting in a temperature change. On a hot day, the sun heats the sand more quickly than the water because of the differences in specific heat. This phenomenon explains why sand can become very hot while the water remains relatively cool, as it requires more energy to change the temperature of water.