If, as a pioneer, you wished to warm your room by taking an object heated on top of a pot-bellied stove to it, which of the following 15-pound objects, each heated to 100°C, would be the best choice? The specific heat capacity (in J/(g·K)) for each substance is given in parentheses. Iron (0.450), copper (0.387), granite (0.79), gold (0.129), water (4.18).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best choice would be water because it has the highest specific heat capacity (4.18 J/(g·K)) compared to the other options. This means that it can absorb more heat energy per unit of mass without significantly increasing in temperature. Therefore, the heated water would stay warm for a longer period of time and effectively warm the room.

If, as a Pioneer, You Wished to Warm Your Room