Final answer:
Esther's experience with heating water for tea and it staying hot in a stainless steel cup illustrates specific heat capacity and insulation. Water has a high specific heat capacity, requiring more time and energy to increase its temperature, while the stainless steel cup acts as an effective insulator, keeping the tea warm all morning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fact that it takes a long time for the water to boil, but it also stays hot for a long time is an example of the specific heat capacity of water and the heat retention properties of the stainless steel cup. The specific heat capacity is a measure of how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of a substance and explains why water takes a while to boil. Once the water is hot, the stainless steel acts as an insulator, slow to release heat, hence keeping the tea warm for an extended period.
Specific heat capacity is crucial in understanding how different substances heat up and cool down. The energy transfer from the stove to the water in the kettle, resulting in the water turning to water vapor, is an example of energy in motion. As the water reaches its boiling point, the temperature remains constant despite the continued input of heat due to the energy being used to change the state of water from liquid to gas, not to increase the temperature.
The properties of the stainless steel cup prevent the heat from escaping quickly, thus acting as a good insulator and keeping the tea hot. This relates to the concept of conduction, where heat is transferred through materials, which is minimal in the case of the insulated cup.