Select the correct answer.

The table shows the specific heat of four substances: brick, dry soil, paper, and water. If all four substances were exposed to sunlight for the same amount of time, which substance would heat up the fastest?

\begin{tabular}{|l|l|}
\hline & Specific Heat [tex]$\left(\frac{ J }{ g ^{\circ} C }\right)$[/tex] \\
\hline brick & 0.9 \\
\hline dry soil & 1.26 \\
\hline paper & 1.336 \\
\hline water & 4.18 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

A. brick
B. paper
C. dry soil
D. water



Answer :

To solve this question, we need to understand the concept of specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius. Substances with lower specific heat values require less energy to increase their temperature, and thus, they heat up faster when exposed to the same amount of energy.

We have been provided with the specific heat values for brick, dry soil, paper, and water:

- Brick: [tex]\(0.9 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]
- Dry soil: [tex]\(1.26 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]
- Paper: [tex]\(1.336 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]
- Water: [tex]\(4.18 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]

To determine which substance heats up the fastest, we need to identify the substance with the lowest specific heat value.

Reviewing the specific heat values:
1. Brick: [tex]\(0.9 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]
2. Dry soil: [tex]\(1.26 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]
3. Paper: [tex]\(1.336 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]
4. Water: [tex]\(4.18 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex]

Clearly, the specific heat for brick is the lowest at [tex]\(0.9 \frac{J}{g \cdot ^{\circ}C}\)[/tex].

Therefore, the substance that will heat up the fastest when exposed to sunlight for the same amount of time is brick.

Thus, the correct answer is:

A. brick