A fisherman in a boat is drinking a cup of hot coffee. The large lake below his boat is full of cold water. Which statement is an accurate comparison of the lake water and the coffee?(1 point)

Question

Responses

A.The coffee will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the lake water will be moving faster.

B.The lake will have more total thermal energy, and the particles in the lake water will be moving faster.

C.The coffee will have more total thermal energy, and the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.

D.The lake will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.

Answer 1

To accurately compare the total thermal energy and the speed of particles in the lake water and the coffee, we need to consider their temperatures and volumes.

1. Total Thermal Energy: This depends on both the temperature and the total mass of the substance. The lake, being a vast body of cold water, has a much larger mass compared to a cup of hot coffee, even if the temperature of the coffee is higher. Thus, the lake will have more total thermal energy due to its larger volume.

2. Particle Movement Speed: The kinetic energy of the particles (which is related to temperature) in the coffee is higher because it is hot. In cold water, although the lake has more total thermal energy, the individual particles move slower than the particles in the hot coffee.

Considering these points, the correct response would be:

B. The lake will have more total thermal energy, and the particles in the lake water will be moving faster.

Final Answer: B.