Heat capacity is an intrinsic physical property of a substance that measures the amount of heat required to change that substance’s temperature by a given amount. The specific heat is the amount of heat necessary to change the temperature of 1.00 kg of mass by 1.00 Celsius. Its SI unit is J/(kg⋅K) or J/(kg⋅C).

Question

Copper is a good conductor of heat while water is not. What statements apply to copper's ability to conduct heat? Choose ALL that apply.
Responses
A Copper is a solid.Copper is a solid.
B Copper is a metal.Copper is a metal.
C Copper has a low specific heat.Copper has a low specific heat.
D Copper readily absorbs heat energy.Copper readily absorbs heat energy.
E Copper takes time to absorb heat energy.

Answer 1

The statements that apply to copper's ability to conduct heat are:

A. Copper is a solid.
B. Copper is a metal.
C. Copper has a low specific heat.

Explanation:

• A. Copper is a solid: True; copper is a solid material, which typically enhances its ability to conduct heat compared to gases and liquids.
• B. Copper is a metal: True; as a metal, copper has free electrons that facilitate the conduction of heat.
• C. Copper has a low specific heat: True; copper has a relatively low specific heat capacity, meaning it requires less heat to change its temperature, which allows it to heat up quickly.
• D. Copper readily absorbs heat energy: This statement is somewhat misleading because while copper can conduct heat well, "readily absorbs" implies a different property related to specific heat, which is comparatively low for copper.
• E. Copper takes time to absorb heat energy: This is false because due to its low specific heat, copper heats up quickly, meaning it does not take long to absorb energy.

Therefore, the correct options are A, B, and C.