Question

The table shows the specific heat of four substances—brick, dry soil, paper, and water. If all four substances were exposed to sunlight for the same amount of time, which substance would heat up the slowest?

Answer 1

The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. Therefore, a high value of specific heat would mean that more heat is needed in order for the temperature to increase. The correct answer would be water since it has the highest specific heat of the choices given.

Answer 2

Water - It has the highest specific heat and therefore is the substance that would heat up the slowest.