No system is completely closed off from its surroundings. Which represents a system that is almost completely closed?


A.
a capped soda bottle

B.
a wood-burning fireplace

C.
a washing machine

D.
a pot of boiling water
I believe it is A.

I agree. It feels the temperature outside it but that is all really. The others all connect directly with the surroundings.

You are correct, a closed system is a system (anything is a system) that is almost completely closed off from its surroundings, note I said ALMOST. Nothing is completely closed off. So what is a closed off system? It is a system that lets nothing come in and nothing come out. So if I fill up a bathtub with the plug in, then I turn off the water, it is a closed system because no water is coming in or out. But if I take the plug out it is now an open system because water is leaving it.

a capped soda bottle

Yea, that's correct.

No system is completely closed off from its surroundings. Which represents a system that is almost completely closed?

To determine which represents a system that is almost completely closed off from its surroundings, we need to consider the characteristics of each option.

A. A capped soda bottle: This represents a system that is almost completely closed. When a bottle is tightly capped, it significantly restricts the exchange of matter (such as air or liquid) between the system (the contents of the bottle) and its surroundings.

B. A wood-burning fireplace: This represents an open system. A fireplace allows for the transfer of energy (heat) and matter (gases, smoke) between the system (the fire) and its surroundings (the room).

C. A washing machine: This represents an open system. A washing machine allows for the transfer of energy (electricity) and matter (water) between the system (the washing machine) and its surroundings.

D. A pot of boiling water: This represents an open system. A pot of boiling water allows for the transfer of energy (heat) and matter (water vapor) between the system (the boiling water) and its surroundings.

Based on the explanations, option A, a capped soda bottle, is the most accurate representation of a system that is almost completely closed off from its surroundings.