Joseph puts a piece of toast on a plate. The toast is hot from the toaster. When he puts the toast on the plate, the energy of the plate increases. What must be true of the energy of the toast?

Question

Responses

a
Its energy stays the same while the energy of the plate increases.
Its energy stays the same while the energy of the plate increases.

b
Its energy decreases while the energy of the plate increases.
Its energy decreases while the energy of the plate increases.

c
Its energy increases while the energy of the plate increases.
Its energy increases while the energy of the plate increases.

d
It is impossible to know without data on the number of molecules in each object.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

b
Its energy decreases while the energy of the plate increases.

When Joseph puts the hot toast on the plate, heat energy (thermal energy) flows from the toast to the plate. As the toast loses heat, its energy decreases, while the plate absorbs that energy, causing its energy to increase.