Biology / Unit 1 Bio 0146 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Water's High Heat Capacity
Captions available
The idea
Water has a high heat capacity — a large amount of energy is needed to raise its temperature, because much of that energy first breaks hydrogen bonds.
In practice
A large lake warms and cools far more slowly across a day than dry land beside it.
Where people slip
Heat capacity describes the energy needed to change water's temperature, not the energy needed to change its state.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Biology