Which substance will likely heat up the fastest based on specific heat?

The substance that will heat up the fastest is the one with the lowest specific heat capacity, which indicates that it requires less energy to increase its temperature. Copper has a specific heat capacity of 0.39 J/g·°C, meaning it can absorb a relatively small amount of heat before its temperature increases. This property allows it to heat up quickly compared to substances with higher specific heat capacities, such as water, aluminum, and dry air.

Water, with a specific heat capacity of 4.19 J/g·°C, requires significantly more energy to raise its temperature, which is why it heats up more slowly. Aluminum, at 0.90 J/g·°C, and dry air, at 1.01 J/g·°C, also have higher specific heat capacities than copper. Thus, when comparing the provided materials, copper will experience a temperature increase more rapidly when exposed to the same amount of heat. This fundamental concept is crucial in understanding heat transfer and temperature changes in different materials.