at the sea side the sun shines equally on the sand and sea. assuming the both absorb the same amount of energy, why is the sand a lot hotter than the sea

The specific heat of water is much higher than the specific heat of the sand; therefore, q = mc*delta T. You can see for the same q and we will assume the same mass (although the mass of the sane probably is less than that of all of the sea water), the higher c causes delta T to be smaller.

Even though the sun shines equally on the sand and sea, the sand tends to become hotter than the sea due to differences in their properties. This is primarily because of the difference in specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity between sand and water.

Firstly, the specific heat capacity of a material refers to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a given mass of that material by a certain amount. Water has a higher specific heat capacity compared to sand. This means that water can absorb and store more heat energy without a significant increase in temperature.

Secondly, the thermal conductivity of a material defines how well it conducts heat. In this case, sand has a higher thermal conductivity compared to water. This means that sand can transfer heat more efficiently and quickly compared to water.

As a result of these properties, when exposed to the same amount of sunlight, the sand heats up faster than the sea due to its lower specific heat capacity and higher thermal conductivity. While both sand and sea absorb the same amount of energy, the sand is unable to retain and distribute the heat energy as effectively as water, causing it to become much hotter.

The reason why the sand at the seaside is hotter than the sea is primarily due to the difference in their respective heat capacities and thermal conductivities. Here's an explanation of the factors that contribute to the temperature difference:

1. Heat capacity: Heat capacity refers to the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. Sand, being a solid, has a lower heat capacity compared to water. This means that it takes less energy to heat up the sand compared to the same amount of water.

2. Thermal conductivity: Thermal conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat. Sand has a higher thermal conductivity than water. This means that heat can easily flow through sand, while water acts as a poor conductor of heat.

Now, let's consider the situation at the seaside. When sunlight falls on both the sand and the sea, they both absorb a similar amount of energy. However, the sand heats up quickly because it has a lower heat capacity. So, the same amount of energy raises the temperature of the sand more than it does for the sea.

Additionally, the higher thermal conductivity of sand allows heat to be conducted and distributed across a larger area, making the overall surface temperature of the sand to feel hotter. Water, on the other hand, has a lower thermal conductivity, which means it retains heat rather than distributing it as effectively.

In summary, the combination of sand's lower heat capacity and higher thermal conductivity causes it to heat up more quickly and reach higher temperatures compared to the sea when exposed to the same amount of sunlight.