The discussion centers around the concept of whether a larger volume of hot water exhibits more resistance to changes in temperature compared to a smaller volume. Participants explore the idea of thermal inertia in liquids and seek clarification on relevant equations and definitions related to heat capacity.
Participants express varying levels of understanding regarding the concepts of heat capacity and thermal inertia, but there is no explicit consensus on the original question about resistance to temperature change.
Some assumptions about the definitions of heat capacity and specific heat capacity may not be fully articulated, and the discussion does not resolve the mathematical relationships involved.
This discussion may be of interest to those exploring concepts in thermodynamics, specifically related to heat capacity and temperature change in liquids.
davetheant said:I was wondering, after looking at a pot of hot water today, whether a large amount of hot water has more resistance to change in temperature than a small pot of water. I thought maybe liquids had a sort of inertia when it comes to temperature; maybe a larger amount could stay hot for longer than a smaller amount. Is this true? And if so, is there an equation that someone could give me? Thanks.