Can someone simplify this question for me?

Question

I need help understanding what I'm being asked. Keep it simple; I'm not a physics guy. Thanks!

Different materials respond to identical inputs of thermal energy by showing different rises in temperature. What is the modern explanation for this difference in response of materials to the same quantity of added thermal energy?

Answer 1

You are being asked to explain why different materials have different specific heat. The question seems clear enough for you to have figured that out.

Answer 2

That is just it different materials are composed of different atoms or different structures of atoms. Moreover, the bonds as well as the nature of the electronic structures within the material respond differently to different inputs of energy. So for example organic materials with similar types of atoms but with different bonds in number or location break, vibrate etc at different energies. It takes more energy to effect a ten carbon linear molecule than a two carbon linear molecule.

Answer 3

I immediately think of " Expansion"
Let the heat from sunlight shine on a piece of metal, and a slab of concrete. Even though it is the same thermal input ( heat from the sunlight) they each respond differently. The metal will expand more than the concrete because it abosorbs and holds more of the heat ( while the heat is present). The concrete don't expand as much for the same heat during the same time.

Answer 4

The heat capacity of the object dictates the ability of different substances to absorb different amounts of energy. It is given by C=dU/dt at a constant volume (the d here are partial derivatives).