Heat capacity is a measure of the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius.
The heat capacity of snow is lower than that of water. This means that it takes less heat energy to raise the temperature of snow by one degree Celsius compared to water.
The lower heat capacity of snow is due to its lower density and the presence of air pockets within its structure. These air pockets act as insulators and prevent the transfer of heat, resulting in a lower heat capacity.
Due to its lower heat capacity, snow melts faster than water when exposed to the same amount of heat energy. This is because snow requires less heat energy to raise its temperature to the melting point compared to water.
Yes, the heat capacity of both snow and water changes with temperature. As the temperature increases, the heat capacity of snow and water also increases. However, the heat capacity of snow increases at a slower rate compared to water.