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 at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC.
b
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at the temperature of the container.
c
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are 300oC.
d
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are 20oC.
a
Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC.
To answer this question, we need to understand the concept of heat transfer. Heat transfer occurs from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature until both regions reach thermal equilibrium, where their temperatures equalize.
In this case, the aluminum block has a higher temperature (300oC) than the water (20oC). Therefore, heat will flow from the aluminum block to the water until they reach thermal equilibrium.
Option a seems to be the most accurate statement. Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20oC and 300oC, but not necessarily exactly in the middle. The final temperature will depend on the mass and specific heat capacity of the two substances.
The correct answer is option a: Heat will flow from the metal to the water until both are at a temperature somewhere between 20°C and 300°C.
Heat always flows from objects with higher temperatures to objects with lower temperatures until they reach a state of thermal equilibrium. In this case, the aluminum block, which has a temperature of 300°C, will transfer heat to the water, which has a lower temperature of 20°C. The heat transfer will continue until both the aluminum block and the water reach a temperature between 20°C and 300°C, assuming there are no other factors affecting the system.