Specific Heat and automobile engines?

Question

Is the high specific heat of water an advantage or disadvantage in the cooling system of an automobile engine? Explain.

Answer 1

Water's high specific heat proves to be an advantage when used as a coolant...such is the case in an automobile engine.

When a substance has a high specific heat, it takes a large amount of energy to increase its temperature.

Q = mc(delta T)
Where Q is the heat energy absorbed, m is the mass of the substance, c is the specific heat of the substance, and (delta T) is the rise in temperature of the substance.
When c is higher, it takes a larger amount of energy (Q) to produce the same (delta T) than would be required if one was using a substance with a lower specific heat.

If you coolant boils off, if will no longer cool. It is desirable to keep water in the liquid state and contained within the cooling system for as long as possible so that it can absorb as much heat as possible from the engine. If water did not have as high of a specific heat as it does, it would heat up much faster and lessen its ability to cool the engine.

Answer 2

i do not learn about questions a million and a couple of, yet as for 3... sure, it truly is sweet suggestion. once you turn on the air conditioner, the cool air is produced by the compressor, yet once you employ the heater, the nice and cozy temperature is generated by the engine itself. Turning on the heater redistributes the various thermal ability faraway from the engine and into the cabin of the vehicle. at the same time as this can be ugly for the occupants, it purely may be the figuring out component that stops expensive damages. yet another element you may do with an overheating engine is open the hood and spray the engine with water. this is a very last hotel, even with the undeniable fact that it finally cool the engine. do no longer attempt this after the engine is grew to change into off. Cooling the engine block too right now is a nasty idea. Leaving the engine operating, and hence generating extra warmth, will ward off the engine from cooling too a lot too quick.

Answer 3

winter-advantage.....summer-disadvantage.