Final answer:
To fry bacon, a small pan heats up faster due to its lower heat capacity, making it efficient for small amounts of bacon, while a large pan, despite its higher heat capacity, is more suitable for larger batches.
Step-by-step explanation:
When deciding whether to use a small or large pan to fry bacon, one should consider the heat capacity of the pans. A large frying pan has a larger heat capacity than a small frying pan because its larger mass means more material, which requires more energy to increase the temperature. Because they are made of the same material, both pans have the same specific heat, but a larger pan will require more energy to reach the same temperature change. For example, the large cast iron frying pan would require 90,700 J of energy to raise its temperature by 50.0 °C, which is greater compared to the smaller pan's requirement.
If the goal is to heat the pan more quickly or fry a smaller amount of bacon, a small pan would be more efficient. Conversely, if cooking large batches of bacon, a large pan would be more suitable due to its ability to accommodate more pieces at once, despite its higher heat capacity.