Final answer:
The substance with the highest thermal effect or specific heat capacity will experience the smallest temperature change upon absorbing a fixed amount of heat. For the question provided, the substance with the highest specific heat capacity in Table 7.3 will have the highest thermal effect when absorbing 100 cal of heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The thermal effect or specific heat capacity of a substance is a measure of how much heat energy is required to raise the temperature of a certain mass of the substance by one degree Celsius. In the context of the question, the substance with the highest thermal effect would be the one that experiences the smallest temperature change upon absorbing a fixed amount of heat, in this case, 100 calories. Therefore, identifying the substance with the highest specific heat capacity from Table 7.3 will answer which would experience the smallest temperature change.
Knowing the specific heat capacity is particularly useful when we consider the energy requirements and efficiency of food production, as the energy input to produce certain foods can be considerably higher than the energy they offer. This is why understanding the specific heat of substances is crucial not only in physics but also in considering the energy efficiency of dietary choices.
To calculate the rate of power absorption, like in the case of the microwave heating spaghetti, we would use the formula:
Power absorbed = (mass of the food) x (specific heat capacity) x (temperature change) / (time)
Substituting the respective values into this equation would determine the rate at which the spaghetti absorbed power from the microwave.