Question

Eric pours some iced tea into a glass. When he puts the iced tea in the glass, the energy of the glass decreases. What must be true of the energy of the iced tea?

Responses

a
Its energy stays the same while the energy of the glass decreases.
Its energy stays the same while the energy of the glass decreases.

b
Its energy decreases while the energy of the glass decreases.
Its energy decreases while the energy of the glass decreases.

c
Its energy increases while the energy of the glass decreases.
Its energy increases while the energy of the glass decreases.

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

Answer 1

To determine the relationship between the energy of the iced tea and the energy of the glass, we need to consider the principles of energy transfer and thermodynamics. When Eric pours iced tea into the glass and the energy of the glass decreases, it implies that energy is being transferred from the glass to the iced tea.

Specifically, the glass, initially at a higher temperature, loses energy (which could be measured in terms of temperature or thermal energy) to the iced tea, which is at a lower temperature. As the glass cools down, the energy of the iced tea must therefore increase as it absorbs energy from the glass.

Therefore, the correct response is:

c. Its energy increases while the energy of the glass decreases.