A stovetop burner on medium reaches 95°C. Which will also receive a flow of heat directly from the burner?

the surrounding air
a burner at the same temperature
a pan heated to 100°C
hotter water inside a pan

1 answer

When considering heat transfer, it's important to recognize that heat flows from a higher temperature to a lower temperature until thermal equilibrium is reached. Here's how each option relates to the stovetop burner at 95°C:

  1. The surrounding air: The surrounding air will receive heat from the burner, as the air temperature is likely lower than 95°C. Thus, heat will flow from the burner to the surrounding air.

  2. A burner at the same temperature: If another burner is at the same temperature (95°C), there will be no net flow of heat between them, as they are in thermal equilibrium with no temperature difference. Therefore, it will not receive heat from the burner.

  3. A pan heated to 100°C: Heat will flow from the hotter pan at 100°C to the cooler burner at 95°C. The pan is at a higher temperature, so it does not receive heat from the burner.

  4. Hotter water inside a pan: If the water inside the pan is hotter than the burner (above 95°C), then it will also not receive heat from the burner; instead, heat will flow from the water to the burner.

In conclusion, the only option that would also receive heat directly from the burner is the surrounding air.