Question 4 (1 point)
An aluminum block with a temperature of 300oC is placed into 200 milliliters of water with a temperature of 20oC. Which statement best describes what will be observed in this experiment?
a
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are 300oC.
b
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are 20oC.
c
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at the temperature of the container.
d
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC.
d
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC.
To find the answer to this question, we need to understand the concept of heat transfer. Specifically, we need to know how heat flows between objects of different temperatures.
In this experiment, an aluminum block with a temperature of 300oC is placed into water with a temperature of 20oC. The aluminum block is hotter than the water, so heat will flow from the aluminum to the water in an attempt to equalize the temperatures.
To determine the final temperature, we need to consider the specific heat capacities of aluminum and water. Aluminum has a lower specific heat capacity than water, which means it requires less heat to increase its temperature compared to water.
Therefore, as the heat flows from the aluminum block to the water, the aluminum will cool down and the water will heat up. However, the heat transfer process will not continue until both the metal and water are at the same temperature, as stated in option a.
Since aluminum has a lower specific heat capacity than water, it will lose heat faster than the water gains heat. As a result, the final temperature will be somewhere between the initial temperatures of the aluminum block (300oC) and the water (20oC). This indicates that option d is the most accurate statement.
Therefore, the correct answer is option d: Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC.
The correct answer is: d
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC.