Question

How did the temperatures of the four books compare before they touched? How will the temperatures of the two top books compare after the books have been touching for a while, and why?

Answer 1

Before the books touched, the temperatures would depend on the environment and the specific conditions of each book. If the books were initially at room temperature, they may have been similar, but if they were in different locations or exposed to different conditions (like sunlight or ventilation), their temperatures could vary.

Once the two top books are in contact for a while, the temperatures will begin to equilibrate due to heat transfer. Heat will flow from the warmer book to the cooler one until they reach thermal equilibrium. The final equilibrium temperature will be somewhere between the initial temperatures of the two books, closer to the higher temperature if there's a significant difference.

In summary, after touching for a while, the temperatures of the two top books will become more similar and will settle at a temperature that is the average of the two initial temperatures, assuming no heat loss to the surrounding environment.