Question

Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu. Brad is swimming in the ocean on a hot sunny day. He finds the water to be much colder than the sand on the beach, even though the sun is warming them both. Identify the reasons for Brad’s observation. The water is colder than the sand because it requires more __________ to change temperature. This is because the water has a higher __________ than the sand.

Option 1: energy, density
Option 2: time, temperature
Option 3: pressure, volume
Option 4: heat, conductivity

Answer 1

The water feels colder than the sand on a hot, sunny day because it has a higher specific heat capacity, requiring more energy to change its temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The water is colder than the sand because it requires more energy to change temperature. This is because the water has a higher specific heat than the sand. When comparing the behavior of water and sand in terms of temperature changes, the key concept to understand is specific heat capacity. Water's higher specific heat capacity means that it can absorb more heat before its temperature rises significantly. Throughout the day, both the sand and the ocean are subject to the sun's warming effects. However, because sand has a lower specific heat capacity, it heats up and cools down much more quickly than the water does. This is also why the water often feels cooler than the land on a sunny day, as it takes more energy for the water to reach the same temperature as the sand.