Final answer:
A larger cast iron frying pan has a higher heat capacity, meaning it requires more energy to raise its temperature compared to a smaller pan. This is because its larger mass involves more atoms that need energy to increase their vibrational speed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the concept of heat capacity, a topic in Physics, particularly in the context of thermal energy and heat transfer. Heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of an object by a certain degree. This is directly proportional to the mass of the object; for instance, a larger cast iron frying pan has a higher heat rating because it contains more material, thus more mass, which in turn means more atoms to make vibrate faster as the temperature increases. The larger the mass of the frying pan, the more energy, measured in joules, is required to achieve the same temperature change. In the provided example, the large cast iron frying pan requires 90,700 J of energy to raise its temperature by 50.0 °C, showcasing its higher heat capacity compared to a smaller pan made of the same material.