Skip to main content

Can you please help me with this problem about thermal equilibrium?

It is a common experience that when we pour hot tea in a mug, the mug gets warm and we have to hold it using its handle. This is simply because heat from the tea has been transferred to the mug. Similarly, over the course of the next few minutes, the tea and the mug get cold. This happens because the mug and the tea lose heat to the colder surroundings. 


This shows that heat...

It is a common experience that when we pour hot tea in a mug, the mug gets warm and we have to hold it using its handle. This is simply because heat from the tea has been transferred to the mug. Similarly, over the course of the next few minutes, the tea and the mug get cold. This happens because the mug and the tea lose heat to the colder surroundings. 


This shows that heat flows from a region of higher temperature to a region of lower temperature. This rule always holds true. In the present case, the plastic cup is at 70 degrees F while the water is at 40 degrees F. The heat will flow from the hotter substance to the colder substance, which means it will flow from the plastic cup to the water (in this case). The heat transfer would be faster initially, since the temperature difference is higher between the two regions. Over time, as the water's temperature goes up and that of the cup goes down, heat transfer will slow down. In the end, both the objects will come to the same temperature. That is, the water and the cup will be in thermal equilibrium.


Among the given options, choice C is correct.


Hope this helps. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more