Question

Why does the sand feel hot under your feet on a sunny day at the beach?

A)
Wind blows heat into the sand.
B)
The Sun's rays heat up the sand.
C)
The waves hitting the beach make a lot of heat.
D)
All of the people walking on the sand heat it up.

Answer 1

The sand feels hot under your feet because the Sun's rays heat up the sand quickly due to its lower specific heat capacity compared to water, causing a temperature difference that leads to the sensation of heat.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason sand feels hot under your feet on a sunny day at the beach is that the sun's rays directly heat up the sand. Option B) The Sun's rays heat up the sand is the correct answer. This occurs because sand has a lower specific heat capacity compared to water, meaning it heats up and cools down more quickly. In contrast, water has a higher specific heat capacity and takes longer to change temperature.

During the day, the sand heats up much faster than the ocean water. As a result, the air above the land becomes warmer and rises, creating a low-pressure area. The cooler air over the ocean, being denser, moves towards the shore to replace the rising warm air, thus causing a sea breeze. At night, the process reverses because the sand cools down faster than the water.