Water is a highly effective coolant for a car engine because

Key Points

• Water has very high specific heat capacity, which means it can absorb a lot of heat before its temperature rises significantly.
• Because of this property, water is highly effective in absorbing the heat generated by a car engine and preventing it from overheating.
• This high specific heat capacity helps in maintaining a stable temperature, ensuring the engine operates efficiently.
• Other properties of water, such as its high boiling point and good thermal conductivity, also contribute to its effectiveness as a coolant, but the specific heat capacity is the primary reason.

Additional Information

• Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance per unit of mass.
• Water’s specific heat capacity is approximately 4.18 joules/gram °C, which is higher than most other common substances.
• This property makes water an excellent medium for heat exchange in various applications, including car engines, industrial processes, and climate control systems.
• In addition to car engines, water is also used as a coolant in power plants, refrigeration units, and air conditioning systems.