Question

itzel ruiz
aluminium
diamond
glass
water
concrete
specific heats of selected materials
material aluminium concrete diamond glass helium water
c (j/kg·k) 897 850 509 840 5193 4181
which material heats up slowest?

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the concept of specific heat

The specific heat capacity \(c\) is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by 1 degree. The formula for heat is \(Q = mc\Delta T\), where \(Q\) is the heat energy, \(m\) is the mass, \(c\) is the specific heat capacity, and \(\Delta T\) is the change in temperature. For a given mass \(m\) and heat input \(Q\), \(\Delta T=\frac{Q}{mc}\). So, the higher the specific heat capacity \(c\), the smaller the change in temperature \(\Delta T\) (i.e., it heats up slower).

Step2: Compare the specific heat values

Looking at the table:

• Aluminium: \(c = 897\ J/(kg\cdot K)\)
• Diamond: \(c = 509\ J/(kg\cdot K)\)
• Glass: \(c = 840\ J/(kg\cdot K)\)
• Water: \(c = 4181\ J/(kg\cdot K)\)
• Concrete: \(c = 850\ J/(kg\cdot K)\)

Since \(4181> 897>850 > 840>509\), water has the highest specific heat capacity among the given materials.

Answer:

Water