On a hot day, the beach sand gets hot, but the water stay cool. would you predict that the specific heat of sand is higher or lower than that of water?

The specific heat capacity of sand is less than the water.

Explanation:

On hot days, the beach sand gets hot than water because the specific heat capacity of water is higher than the sand.

Specific heat capacity:

"The amount of heat require to raise the temperature of one gram of substance by one degree"

it mean that water require more heat to raise the temperature while sand get hot by absorbing small amount of temperature.

The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J Kg-1 °C-1

The specific heat capacity of sand is 840 J Kg-1 °C-1

Equation:

C = Q/ ΔT

Here C is the heat capacity, ΔT is the change of temperature of substance by absorbing heat and Q is the energy in joule.

Another equation:

Q = C× m × ΔT

m is the mass of given substance. The specific heat capacity of water very high than other substances that make a water compound in term of temperature.

because of all the things that happen around the us, many people get into arguments which sadly could get physical, but we should actually make a change for that.

it can be observed without changing the identity of the object.

it depends on what substance you're talking about as well as many other factors. in quantum mechanics, the observation of particles affects the observers ability to measure certain properties. for example: you can know the velocity of a particle, but you can't know it's position; or you can know it's position, but not it's velocity. it's like trying to find out where a grain of sand is by throwing other grains of sand at it. once you find out where it is, it's been moved. it's also like trying to find an answer to the question of whether or not a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if nobody is there to hear it. paradoxically, the only way to find out is to be there and hear it.