Examples of using the specific heat capacity of water in life are as follows:
Keeping water warm in a water bottle: In the cold winter months, many people will use a thermos bottle to keep hot water warm. This is because water has a relatively high specific heat capacity, it needs to absorb a lot of heat in order to raise its temperature, but it also releases heat relatively slowly. This allows the thermos to keep the water warm for a long time, providing us with hot water.
Oceans regulate temperature: The sea and oceans are the largest bodies of water on Earth, and they play an important role in absorbing and releasing heat. Due to the high specific heat capacity of water, the oceans require a lot of heat when absorbing solar radiation, which helps to regulate temperatures and make coastal areas milder.
Cooking: In cooking, it is a common practice to cook ingredients in boiling water. This is because the high specific heat capacity of water transfers heat evenly to the food, ensuring that they are heated evenly and do not burn easily.
Radiator: Cars and electronic devices often use radiators to dissipate heat. Radiators are filled with coolant, usually a mixture of water and antifreeze. When an engine or electronic device generates a lot of heat, the water in the radiator absorbs the heat and then radiates it through the radiator's fins to keep the device at a normal operating temperature.
Body cooling: Sweating is one of the body's natural cooling mechanisms when we feel overheated. It takes a lot of heat to evaporate sweat, and the body takes that heat away from the surface of the skin, lowering the body temperature.
Solar water heaters: Solar water heaters use solar energy to heat water. Solar panels absorb solar radiation and convert it into heat, which is then transferred to the stored water. Due to the high specific heat capacity of water, it is able to maintain its temperature for a long time.
Medical applications: In the medical field, ice packs and heat packs are commonly used to treat injured areas. The ice in an ice pack absorbs heat, thereby lowering the temperature of the injured area and reducing pain and swelling. Conversely, the hot water in a heat pack provides thermal therapy, helping to soothe muscle tension and pain.