Question

Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option out of the option given below. (a) If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the reason. (b) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion. (c) If assertion is true but reason is false. (d) If the assertion and reason both are false. (e) If assertion is false but reason is true. Assertion: Specific heat capacity is the cause of formation of land and sea breeze. Reason: The specific heat of water is more then land. (A) a (B) \(b\) (C) \(c\) (D) \(\mathrm{d}\) \((\mathrm{E}) \mathrm{e}\)

Short answer

The correct answer is (a) - both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Step-by-step solution

Assertion: Specific heat capacity is the cause of formation of land and sea breeze. This assertion is true. Specific heat capacity plays a significant role in the formation of land and sea breezes. Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance. During the day, land heats up faster than water due to the differences in their specific heat capacities, which results in the formation of a sea breeze. Conversely, at night, land cools down faster than water, resulting in the formation of a land breeze. #Step 2: Evaluating the Reason#

Reason: The specific heat of water is more than land. The reason is true. Water has a higher specific heat capacity compared to land, meaning it can absorb more heat without increasing its own temperature as much. This is one reason why land heats up more quickly during the day and cools down at night, compared to water bodies. #Step 3: Determining if the Reason is the Correct Explanation of the Assertion#

Now that we have established that both the assertion and the reason are true, we need to determine if the reason provided is indeed the correct explanation for the assertion. The reason does a good job of explaining why specific heat capacity leads to the formation of land and sea breezes. Since water has a higher specific heat capacity than land, it is not as affected by temperature changes throughout the day and night. This difference in heating and cooling rates between the land and water is the main reason for the formation of land and sea breezes. #Step 4: Marking the Correct Answer#

Based on our evaluation in the previous steps, both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion. Therefore, we can choose option (a) as the correct answer.

Key concepts

Specific Heat Capacity

Specific heat capacity is an essential concept in understanding how different materials react to heat. It defines how much thermal energy is needed to raise a substance's temperature by a specific amount. This property often determines how materials will behave in various thermal environments. For instance, water requires more heat to increase its temperature compared to land because of its high specific heat capacity.

Several key points make specific heat capacity crucial in physics:

• It indicates how substances will change temperature or maintain their current state when exposed to heat.
• Materials with high specific heat capacities, like water, can buffer temperature changes which is vital in moderating climates.
• This property is exploited in various applications, from designing buildings to formulating climate models.

In physics problems, specific heat capacity is often a critical factor in explaining phenomena such as the development of land and sea breezes.

Land and Sea Breeze

Land and sea breezes are fascinating meteorological phenomena resulting from the differing specific heat capacities of land and water. During the day, the sun heats up both the land and the sea. However, because water has a higher specific heat capacity than land, it warms up more slowly. As a result, the air over the land becomes warmer faster and rises, creating a low-pressure area. Cooler air from over the sea then moves in to replace this rising warm air, forming a sea breeze.

At night, the reverse process occurs. The land cools down more quickly than the water due to its lower specific heat capacity. Consequently, the air over the water stays warmer and rises, leading to a gentle movement of air from the land towards the sea—a land breeze.

• Sea breezes are common on warm sunny days when land temperatures rise rapidly.
• Land breezes typically occur during calm, clear nights when the land loses heat quickly.
• These breezes contribute significantly to coastal weather patterns and can affect local climates.

Understanding these breezes highlights how specific heat capacity plays a crucial role in both small and large-scale environmental processes.

Thermal Properties of Water and Land

The thermal properties of water and land significantly influence many environmental and climatic behaviors. Water has a higher specific heat capacity than land, meaning it can hold and carry more heat energy without its temperature rising significantly. This property means that large bodies of water can moderate the climate of coastal areas by absorbing heat during the daytime and releasing it at night.

Here are some key points about thermal properties:

• Water’s ability to absorb and store heat helps stabilize weather patterns and seasons.
• This attribute of water provides habitats with a more consistent temperature, crucial for ecosystem stability.
• Land, with its lower specific heat capacity, tends to have more extreme temperature changes, heating up during the day and cooling down rapidly at night.

This contrast between water and land is foundational in earth sciences and climatology, giving students insights into weather phenomena such as seasons, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation patterns.