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)) out of all the options given. This means that it can absorb more heat energy per unit mass than the other substances before increasing in temperature, making it more effective at warming the room.

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