Question

What are the uses of specific heat in our daily life ?

Answer 1

Hint: In thermodynamics, Heat is the energy that flows between two bodies having a difference in their temperatures and specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of the unit mass of the given substance by one degree of temperature. We will discuss the important uses of specific heat in our daily life.

Complete answer:
On the basis of definition of specific heat, following are the main uses of specific heat in our daily life.
(a) Those substances which have very small specific heat capacity, are generally used in cooking the food items because on very small amounts of heat they easily get heated and cooking starts earlier, common examples are pots, kettle, fry pan and many kitchen utensils.

(b) Kettle handlers and frying pan handlers are generally made of materials having very high specific heat capacity because even after too much heating their temperature will rise very minutely which prevents us from getting burned while holding such items.

(c) Water is used in firefighting because it has a very high specific heat capacity and it can absorb large amounts of heat without increase in noticeable temperature.

Note: It should be remembered that, mathematically specific heat is calculated by using its general formula which is written as $Q = mc\Delta T$ where c denotes for specific heat capacity and $Q,m,\Delta T$ are the heat energy, mass of the substance, Temperature raised of the substance. Specific heat capacity has SI units of $JK{g^{ - 1}}{K^{ - 1}}.$