A dish of ice cream was left out on a table and is beginning to melt. What conclusions can be made?

Question

answers below:
Energy is flowing from the air and the table to the ice cream, which causes the ice cream to melt.

Energy is being created by the dish of ice cream and being released into the table.

Energy is being created by the table, causing the ice cream to melt.

Energy is being transferred from the table to the dish of ice cream.

Answer 1

The correct conclusion from the provided options is:

Energy is flowing from the air and the table to the ice cream, which causes the ice cream to melt.

This is because the heat energy from the warmer environment (the air and the table) is being transferred to the ice cream, causing it to absorb that energy and melt. The other statements incorrectly imply that energy is created rather than transferred, which contradicts the laws of thermodynamics.