Energy Unit Retest
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Question
The diagram below shows two flasks of water, one with hot water and the other with room temperature water, which are connected by a conductive metal bar. When initially set up, in which direction does the thermal energy between the flasks flow?
Captionless Image
Responses
Thermal energy flows equally between the two flasks.
Thermal energy flows equally between the two flasks.
Thermal energy flows from the flask on the left to the flask on the right.
Thermal energy flows from the flask on the left to the flask on the right.
Thermal energy flows from the flask on the right to the flask on the left.
Thermal energy flows from the flask on the right to the flask on the left.
Thermal energy does not flow between the two flasks.
Thermal energy flows from the flask on the left to the flask on the right.
The correct answer is: Thermal energy flows from the flask on the left to the flask on the right.
To determine the direction of thermal energy flow between the two flasks, we need to understand the concept of heat transfer. Heat transfer occurs when there is a temperature difference between two objects or substances. In this case, we have one flask of hot water and another flask of room temperature water, which means there is a temperature difference between them.
Heat transfer can occur through three different mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact between two objects. In this scenario, the two flasks are connected by a conductive metal bar, suggesting that conduction is the mechanism by which thermal energy is transferred.
According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows from a hotter object to a colder object. This means that thermal energy will flow from the flask with hot water (higher temperature) to the flask with room temperature water (lower temperature) via conduction through the metal bar. Therefore, the correct answer is:
Thermal energy flows from the flask on the left to the flask on the right.
Please select the response that states "Thermal energy flows from the flask on the left to the flask on the right" as the correct answer.