Question

Mention the applications of high specific heat capacity of water.

Answer 1

Water has the highest specific heat capacity. It therefore takes a long time to heat and long time to cool. The following uses/ effects are due to the high specific heat capacity of water.

1. Fomentation:

Hot water bottles are used for fomentation, as the water remains hot in the bottle for a long time in spite of giving off large quantities of heat.

2. Car radiators:

Water is used as coolant car radiators. Due to its high specific heat capacity, it can absorb a large amount of heat energy from the engine of the car, but its temperature does not rise too high.

3. Bottled Wines:

In cold countries, wine bottles re kept under water. Due to the high specific heat capacity of water, it takes a long time for the temperature to fall to 00 C.

4. Land and sea breezes:

The specific heat capacity of water is about five times more than that of sand. It therefore, takes a much longer time to heat and to cool with respect to sand.

During the day, the land cools faster than the sea. The hot air from the sea rises while the cool air from the sea moves to take its place, giving rise to a sea breeze.

During the night, the land cools faster than the sea. The hot air from the land moves to take its place, giving rise to a land breeze.