Listen:
Use the information and table below to answer both the multiple choice and written response questions.
A student is making a meal for a party and needs to keep the food warm for two hours before everyone arrives. The student has four containers to choose from, and each one is made from a different material that holds heat differently.
Container Material and Their Specific Heat:
- Aluminum: 0.90 J/g °C
- Glass: 0.84 J/g °C
- Styrofoam: 1.13 J/g °C
- Plastic: 1.90 J/g °C
Multiple Choice: (2 points)
Which material should the student choose to keep the food as warm as possible?
- A) Aluminum
- B) Glass
- C) Styrofoam
- D) Plastic
Written Response: (4 points)
Why did you choose that material? Use information from the table and explain your reasoning.
Answer Key
Multiple Choice:
The correct answer is A) Aluminum.
Written Response Sample:
I chose Aluminum because it has the lowest specific heat of all the materials listed, which is 0.90 J/g °C. This means it will heat up quickly and hold the heat better than the others. The lower the specific heat, the less energy it takes for the material to change temperature. So, Aluminum will keep the food warm for a longer time compared to Glass, Styrofoam, or Plastic, which have higher specific heats.