Question

Which experimental setup would let a student investigate the connection between kinetic energy and temperature?(1 point)
Responses

placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing one drop of food coloring in a second cup with 50 mL of water at 40ºC
placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing one drop of food coloring in a second cup with 50 mL of water at 40ºC

placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing two drops of food coloring in a second cup with 100 mL of water at 40ºC
placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing two drops of food coloring in a second cup with 100 mL of water at 40ºC

placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing two drops of food coloring in a second cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC
placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing two drops of food coloring in a second cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC

placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing one drop of food coloring in a second cup with 100 mL of water at 10ºC

Answer 1

The most suitable experimental setup for investigating the connection between kinetic energy and temperature would be:

**Placing one drop of food coloring in a cup with 50 mL of water at 10ºC; placing one drop of food coloring in a second cup with 50 mL of water at 40ºC.**

This setup allows the student to compare the diffusion rate of the food coloring in water at two different temperatures. Higher temperatures correspond to higher kinetic energy, which should result in a faster diffusion rate of the food coloring in the warmer water compared to the cooler water. This experiment directly relates the effect of temperature on kinetic energy through the observable behavior of the food coloring.