If you were to go to a sandy beach on a sunny summer day, which would feel warmer-the sand or the water? Explain why, using your knowledge of the properties of water.

The sand would feel warmer as the water has a higher heat capacity-the amount of heat energy required to increase temperature-. This allows large bodies of water such as oceans and lakes to absorb large amounts of heat with only small changes in temperature.

The sand because the body of water takes time to get warmer