The heat capacity of a substance can be defined as the amount of heat required to change its temperature by one degree.
Heat capacity for a given matter depends on its size or quantity and hence it is an extensive property. The unit of heat capacity is joule per Kelvin or joule per degree Celsius.
Explanation:
A substance with a high heat capacity absorbs a lot of heat for a small temperature increase. A substance with a large heat capacity absorbs a large amount of heat for a small rise in temperature.
A pan with a thick base has a higher mass and hence higher heat capacity. Due to its large heat capacity, it will provide the food with a larger amount of heat at a lower temperature. This in turn makes sure that the food is cooked well without getting burnt.
Due to thermal conductivity and thermal mass, thicker pans will have greater heat distribution and heat retention.
The frying pan does not always rest evenly on the cooking surface, and the hot surface may only come into contact with small portions of the pan.
As a result, the temperature of the pan’s bottom will vary widely. Thus, heat will be distributed and retained more evenly with thicker pans because of thermal mass and thermal conductivity.
Hence, the frying pans have a thick base.
An illustrative diagram of a frying pan is shown below.
