Question

Which of the following normally warms up fastest when the heat is applied?

A) water
B) iron
C) glass
D) wood
E) All of the above choices are equally true.

Answer 1

Materials with lower specific heat capacity, such as metals, heat up and cool down more quickly, while materials with higher specific heat are better for insulation as they change temperature less rapidly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The material that normally warms up fastest when heat is applied is dependent on its specific heat capacity. Specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. Materials with lower specific heat capacity warm up and cool down more quickly than those with higher specific heat.

Generally, metals like iron have lower specific heats compared to water or glass, resulting in faster temperature changes when heat is applied or removed. In the context of insulation, materials with higher specific heat, such as wool, are more desirable because they can absorb more heat before their temperature rises significantly, thereby preventing heat loss from the body.