A cold cast iron skillet is placed onto a stove top. When the stove is turned on, the skillet becomes very hot. Why does the skillet become hot?
A) The skillet is losing energy (heat) to the stove.
B) The stove is gaining energy (heat) from the skillet.
C) The skillet is gaining energy (heat) from the stove. *****
D) A chemical reaction occurs that makes the skillet hot.
That is correct.
C) The skillet is gaining energy (heat) from the stove.
When a cold cast iron skillet is placed onto a stove top and the stove is turned on, heat from the stove is transferred to the skillet through the process of conduction. The stove top, usually made of metal, becomes hot due to the heat produced by the burner. As a result, the skillet receives this heat energy and gradually becomes hot. Therefore, the skillet is gaining energy (heat) from the stove.
To determine why the skillet becomes hot when placed on a stove top, we need to understand the concept of heat transfer. Heat transfer occurs when there is a temperature difference between two objects in contact with each other. There are three modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
In this scenario, the main mode of heat transfer is conduction. Conduction refers to the transfer of heat through direct contact between objects or substances. When the cold cast iron skillet is placed onto the stove top, the stove and the skillet come into contact. Since the stove is hotter than the skillet, heat energy begins to transfer from the stove to the skillet through conduction.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C) The skillet is gaining energy (heat) from the stove.