Question 13 (1 point)
Two samples of water are prepared, one with red food coloring and one with blue. When carefully combined, the red-colored water is able to float on top of the blue-colored water. Which statement best explains this result?
a
The red-colored water is cooler and more dense.
b
The red-colored water is hotter and less dense.
c
The blue-colored water is cooler and less dense.
d
The blue-colored water is hotter and more dense.
c
The blue-colored water is cooler and less dense.
The correct answer is: c) The blue-colored water is cooler and less dense.
Explanation: When two substances are combined, the density of the resulting mixture depends on the relative densities of the individual substances. In this case, the fact that the red-colored water floats on top of the blue-colored water suggests that the red-colored water is less dense than the blue-colored water. This means that the blue-colored water is cooler and more dense than the red-colored water.
To determine the answer to this question, we need to understand the concept of density and how it affects the buoyancy of objects in a fluid.
Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume of a substance. When two substances of different densities are combined, the denser substance will sink while the less dense substance will float on top.
In this case, the question states that when the red-colored water is combined with the blue-colored water, the red-colored water floats on top. This means that the red-colored water is less dense than the blue-colored water.
Looking at the answer choices:
a) The red-colored water being cooler and more dense contradicts the observation that it floats on top.
b) The red-colored water being hotter and less dense also contradicts the observation that it floats on top.
c) The blue-colored water being cooler and less dense matches the observation that the red-colored water floats on top.
d) The blue-colored water being hotter and more dense contradicts the observation that the red-colored water floats on top.
Therefore, the correct answer is c) The blue-colored water is cooler and less dense, which explains why the red-colored water is able to float on top of it.