Question

The specific heat of water is quite large. Explain why this fact makes water particularly good for heating systems (that is, hot-water radiators).

Short answer

Since water has a high specific heat, it contains a huge amount of thermal energy per unit mass with a relatively small rise in temperature.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1:Understanding the specific heat of an object

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of an object of mass 1 gram by one degree of temperature unit is called its specific heat.

Step 2:Explanation for why water is good for heating systems

The specific heat of water is very high. It contains a huge amount of thermal energy per unit mass with a relatively small rise in temperature. This fact makes water particularly good for heating systems.

Further, being a liquid, water can be transported easily from one location to another. Hence, it can easily carry large amounts of energy from one place to another.