7. In a meeting room, there are chairs, a table, and people. Which of these things has a temperature a) lower than, b) greater than, or c) equal to the temperature of the air?
The table will eventually attain the temperature of the air in the room.
People will be warmer than the air because their bodies continue to generate heat.
Chairs that are sat on will be warmer than the air, for obvious reasons.
In a meeting room, the temperature of the air and the temperature of the other objects may vary. However, we can make some general statements:
a) Chairs: The temperature of chairs can be either lower than, equal to, or greater than the temperature of the air, depending on the material they are made of and their exposure to sunlight or heating/cooling sources.
b) Table: Similar to chairs, the temperature of a table can be lower than, equal to, or greater than the temperature of the air, depending on its material and exposure to external factors.
c) People: People usually have a body temperature of around 98.6°F (37°C), which is typically higher than the temperature of the air in a room. So, the temperature of people is generally greater than the temperature of the air.
Considering these general scenarios, the answer would be:
a) Chairs: Lower than, equal to, or greater than the temperature of the air.
b) Table: Lower than, equal to, or greater than the temperature of the air.
c) People: Greater than the temperature of the air.
To determine the temperature of the objects in the meeting room, we need to understand the concept of thermal equilibrium. According to the laws of thermodynamics, when objects are in contact with each other in a closed system, they tend to reach the same temperature. In this case, the closed system is the meeting room.
Now, let's analyze each item mentioned in the question:
a) Chairs: The temperature of chairs in the meeting room is typically equal to the temperature of the air. This is because chairs are large objects made of materials (such as wood or metal) that conduct heat. When in contact with the air, chairs reach an equilibrium, so their temperature is generally the same as the surrounding air.
b) Table: Just like chairs, the temperature of the table is also generally equal to the temperature of the air. Tables are usually made of materials that have thermal conductivity, like wood, and therefore, they reach thermal equilibrium with the surrounding air.
c) People: The temperature of people can vary, and it is not always the same as the surrounding air. Humans generate and release body heat, which affects their temperature. In a meeting room, people's body temperatures may be slightly higher or lower than the air temperature, depending on factors like physical activity, clothing, and metabolic rate.
To summarize, chairs and tables in a meeting room generally have temperatures equal to the air, while people's temperatures can vary.