Final answer:
The materials in order of decreasing specific heat are liquid water, dry air, granite, and iron. Water has a high specific heat, which makes it the material that takes the longest to change in temperature and is useful for insulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The order of materials based on decreasing specific heat is as follows: liquid water, dry air, granite, and iron. This means that liquid water has the highest specific heat and iron has the lowest. Specific heat is a property that indicates how much heat is required to change the temperature of a substance. By comparing how quickly different materials are heated or cooled, we can deduce which material has the greatest or smallest specific heat. For example, water will take the longest time to heat up or cool down due to its high specific heat, making it extremely useful for insulation purposes.
A real-world situation where an object with a large specific heat is desirable is in climate regulation. Oceans absorb and release heat slowly, mediating temperatures on Earth. This makes water indispensable for sustaining life, as it helps to maintain a stable environment.
Therefore, the correct order of materials from greatest to smallest specific heat is: Liquid water, dry air, granite, and iron. This corresponds to option number 3.