Question

The specific heats of two natural substances are shown in the table. Specific Heat Natural Substance Specific Heat Wet Mud 2.5 J/g °C Sandy Clay 1.4 J/g °C A pile of wet mud and a pile of sandy clay are placed next to each other on a sunny day. If the temperature of each pile is equal and allowed to cool in the shade for a few minutes, which substance is likely to show a lower temperature and why? Wet mud, because it released more heat while placed in the sun. Sandy clay, because it absorbed more heat while placed in the sun. Wet mud, because it requires less energy to increase its temperature. Sandy clay, because it needs to release less energy to decrease its temperature.

Answer 1

The specific heat of a substance is heat released or absorbed by one gram for a change in 1 degree celsius

so higher the specific heat, more the heat required to raise the temperature by same extent or more the heat released on decrease in temperature upto same extent (for two substance)

Here the specific heat of sandy clay is 1.4 J/g °C

So it is less than that of wet mud hence sandy clay is needs to release less energy to decrease its temperature