4.2.3 Applications of Specific Heat Capacity

Cooking Pot

1. Different part of a cooking pot are made up of different material.
2. The base of a cooking pot is usually made up of copper because
   1. copper has low specific heat capacity so that it need less heat to raise up the temperature.
   2. copper is a good heat conductor.
   3. copper has high density. The heavier base can make the pot become more stable. 
3. The handles of cooking pot is usually made up of plastic or wood because
   1. plastic and wood have high specific heat capacity. Their temperature won’t become too high even it absorbs large amount of heat.
   2. plastic and wood are good heat insulator.
   3. plastic and wood have low density hence they do not add much to the total weight of the pot.
4. The body of the cooking pot is usually made up of stainless steel because
   1. steel has low specific heat capacity and hence need need less heat to raise up the temperature.
   2. steel does not react chemically with the food.

Car Engine

1. Water is used to cool down the car engine.
2. Water is used as the cooling agent in the car cooling system because 
   1. it has high specific heat capacity. It can absorb a large amount of heat without a high increase in temperature.
   2. it is cheap and can be obtained easily.
3. Water is pumped through the channels in the engine block to absorb heat.
4. The hot water flows to the radiator and is cooled by the air flows through the fins of the radiator.
5. The cool water flows back to the engine again to capture more heat and this cycle is repeated continuously.

Applications of Specific Heat Capacity - Factories with Low Ceiling

1. Some factories without large machinery are constructed with low ceilings to reduce the volume of air inside the building. 
2. The smaller mass of air will have a smaller heat capacity.
3. As a result, less heat needs to be removed to reduce the temperature of the air.
4. This will then reduce the air conditioning costs for the factory.

Thermal Radiator

1. Thermal radiators are always used in cold country to warm the house.
2. Hot water is made to flow through a radiator. The heat given out from the radiator is then warm the air of the house.
3. The cold water is then flows back to the water tank. This process is repeated continuously.
4. Water is used in the radiator because it has high specific heat capacity.

Sea Breeze

1. Land has lower heat capacity than sea water. Therefore, in day time, the temperature of the land increases faster than the sea.
2. Hot air (lower density) above the land rises. Cooler air from the sea flows towards land and hence produces sea breeze.

Land Breeze

1. Land has lower heat capacity than sea water. During night time, the temperature of the land drops faster than the sea.
2. Hot air (lower density) above the sea rises. Cooler air from the land blows towards sea and hence produces land breeze.

Moderate Climate