When you get into a parked car in the summer time, the metal clip is hot and the seat belt fabric is not. What has a higher specific heat, the metal clip or the seat belt fabric? Think about the definition of specific heat.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Specific heat in really simple terms is the heat required to raise the temperature of something or how easily something can gain heat. The more energy required to raise the temperature of an object creates a higher specific heat. Since it was difficult for the seat belt to heat up the seat belt would have a higher specific heat. Things with higher specific heat numbers take more energy to heat up and cool down like water. A swimming pool sitting in the sun will take a long time to raise its temperature but then is able to keep that temperature for awhile as well. (That's why the water is warm when you swim at night).

anonymous · Answer

Thank you! Great example!

alexalas · Answer

Specific heat is basicly the amount of energy units to raise a substance's temperature by one unit. So metal vs a Seatbelt. pots are made of metal because the heat up quickly while clothes are made of fabrics that take longer to heat or cool. So basically the fabric of the seatbelt has a higher specific heat.