Final answer:
When two bodies at different temperatures are in thermal contact, the final temperature depends on factors such as specific heat capacity and mass. The coolant in a chemical or nuclear plant should have a high specific heat to prevent overheating. The air pressure in a car tire increases during driving due to heat generated by friction, and the climate of a harbor town is more temperate than that of a desert town due to the moderating effect of nearby water.
Step-by-step explanation:
If two objects at different temperatures are brought in contact with each other, energy is transferred from the hotter object to the colder object until both objects reach the same temperature. The final temperature is not necessarily the mean temperature of the two initial temperatures, but depends on factors such as the specific heat capacity and mass of the objects. For example, if two bodies of different mass and specific heat capacities are in contact, the final temperature will be closer to the initial temperature of the body with the larger specific heat capacity.
The coolant used in a chemical or nuclear plant should have a high specific heat because it can absorb a large amount of heat per unit mass before its temperature increases significantly. This helps prevent the different parts of the plant from getting too hot and potentially causing damage or malfunction.
The air pressure in a car tire increases during driving due to the heat generated by friction between the tire and the road. As the tire rotates, the friction causes an increase in temperature, which in turn increases the air pressure inside the tire. This is known as the adiabatic compression of the air.
The climate of a harbor town is more temperate than that of a town in a desert at the same latitude due to the moderating effect of the nearby body of water. Water has a greater specific heat than land, meaning it requires more heat energy to change its temperature. As a result, the ocean or lake near the harbor town helps regulate the temperature, keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter compared to the desert town.