Question

Divers and surfers often use wetsuits when they are spending many hours in the water. The wetsuits have a think layer of water that exists between the material of the suit and the skin of the wearer. Justify the presence of the think layer of water using the data shown here.

A) Water has a low specific heat capacity and will insulate the wearer against colder water temperatures outside the suit.
B) Water has a high specific heat capacity and will insulate the wearer against colder water temperatures outside the suit.
C) Water has a low specific heat capacity so the body temperature of the wearer will quickly acclimate to the outside temperature.
D) Water has a high specific heat capacity so the body temperature of the wearer will quickly acclimate to the outside temperature.

Answer 1

The thin layer of water in the wetsuit helps to insulate the wearer against colder water temperatures due to the high specific heat capacity of water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of a thin layer of water between the wetsuit and the wearer's skin helps to insulate the wearer against colder water temperatures outside the suit. This is due to the high specific heat capacity of water. Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat one gram of a substance must absorb or lose to change its temperature by one degree Celsius. Water has a higher specific heat capacity compared to most other substances, which means it takes a lot of energy to raise or lower its temperature. As a result, the water in the wetsuit helps to maintain the wearer's body temperature and prevent rapid heat loss in cold water.