Dependent variable: A dependent variable can be described as the one which is dependent on the independent variable. It can be described as a variable which is under observation or the variable on which experiments is being made.
An independent variable can be described as a variable which is not dependent on any factor. Changes in the independent variable bring changes in the dependent variable.
The independent variable is the Sun and the dependent variable is the specific heat capacity. As air has lower heat capacity, hence it will cool faster than water.
Nearly all life on Earth gets its energy from the sun, and the sun gets its energy through the process of nuclear fusion, which is why these type of energy is important to life on Earth.