Explain, using molecular motion and particle collisions, why warmer matter always transfers heat to

colder matter.

Can you make the answer clear and simple as well as easy for my teacher to understand me, please?

1 answer

Sure! Let's break it down simply:

  1. Molecular Motion: In any material, the molecules (tiny particles) are always moving. The faster they move, the warmer the material is. When matter gets warmer, its molecules move more quickly.

  2. Collisions Between Particles: When warm matter comes into contact with colder matter, the faster-moving molecules from the warm side crash into the slower-moving molecules of the cold side. Think of a crowded dance floor: the fast dancers (warm molecules) bump into the slower dancers (cold molecules), transferring some of their energy.

  3. Energy Transfer: When the fast-moving warm molecules collide with the slow-moving cold molecules, some of the energy from the warm molecules is passed on to the cold ones. This makes the cold ones move a little faster, increasing their temperature. Meanwhile, the fast ones lose some energy, causing them to slow down slightly.

  4. Result: Over time, this energy transfer means that the warm material loses heat (moves toward a lower temperature), while the cold material gains heat (moves toward a higher temperature). Eventually, if they stay in contact long enough, they can reach the same temperature, a state called thermal equilibrium.

So, in summary: warmer matter transfers heat to colder matter because the faster-moving molecules in the warm matter collide with and share their energy with the slower-moving molecules in the cold matter, making the cold matter warmer and the warm matter cooler.