Question

Explain the specific heat capacity of water.

Answer 1

The specific heat of water is the amount of heat needed to raise its temperature for a certain amount. One of the water's most significant properties is that it takes a lot of heat to get hot. Precisely, water has to absorb 4.184 joules of heat for the temperature of one gram of water to increase 1 degree celsius (${}^{\circ }$C). For comparison sake, it only takes 0.385 joules of heat to raise 1 gram of copper $1^{\circ }$C.
The specific heat of water is 1 calorie/gram ${}^{\circ }$C = 4.186 joule/gram ${}^{\circ }$C which is higher than any other common substance. As a result, water plays a very important role in temperature regulation.