The popsicle you are eating starts melting. Which of the following is correct regarding the situation?
The popsicle loses thermal energy and the particles speed up.
The popsicle gains thermal energy and the particles speed up.
The popsicle loses thermal energy and the particles slow down.
The popsicle is at thermal equilibrium therefore the heat transfer is equal.
what was the answer
The correct answer is: The popsicle loses thermal energy and the particles speed up.
When a popsicle starts melting, it means that it is gaining energy from its surroundings and transitioning from a solid state to a liquid state. This is known as a phase change process. During this process, the popsicle absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings, causing the particles within the popsicle to gain energy and move faster. As a result, the popsicle melts and transitions into a liquid state.
The correct answer regarding the situation is:
The popsicle loses thermal energy and the particles speed up.
Explanation:
When a popsicle starts melting, it is losing thermal energy. The energy transfer occurs from the popsicle to the surrounding environment, causing the particles in the popsicle to speed up. This is because as the popsicle loses thermal energy, the particles within it have less energy to maintain their current state, and as a result, they start moving faster.
To understand this, we can consider the concept of heat transfer and particle motion. Heat is energy that flows from a higher temperature region to a lower temperature region. In this case, the popsicle is at a lower temperature than its surroundings, so heat flows out from the popsicle to its surroundings. As the popsicle loses thermal energy, its particles lose energy, causing them to move more quickly.
Additionally, it's important to note that thermal equilibrium refers to a state where there is no net heat transfer between two objects, meaning the temperatures between them are equal. In the case of a melting popsicle, it is not at thermal equilibrium, as it is losing heat to its surroundings.
In conclusion, as the popsicle melts, it loses thermal energy, and the particles within it speed up as a result.