Question

The thermal energy in a cup of tea is _____ the thermal energy in a pot of tea at the same temperature.


greater than

less than

equal to

Answer 1

The thermal energy in a cup of tea is **less than** the thermal energy in a pot of tea at the same temperature. This is because thermal energy is a function of both the temperature and the amount (mass) of the substance. Since the pot of tea typically has a larger mass than the cup of tea, it will have greater thermal energy even if both are at the same temperature.