Question
Which has more thermal energy, a massive iceberg or a cup of coffee?
a
An iceberg, due to its mass
b
An iceberg because it is colder
c
A cup of coffee, due to its mass
d
A cup of coffee because it is hotter
a
An iceberg, due to its mass
b
An iceberg because it is colder
c
A cup of coffee, due to its mass
d
A cup of coffee because it is hotter
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is **a**: An iceberg, due to its mass.
Though a cup of coffee is generally hotter than an iceberg, the iceberg's massive size means it contains vastly more thermal energy overall, despite being at a lower temperature. Thermal energy is a function of both temperature and mass, so the large mass of the iceberg contributes significantly to its total thermal energy.
Though a cup of coffee is generally hotter than an iceberg, the iceberg's massive size means it contains vastly more thermal energy overall, despite being at a lower temperature. Thermal energy is a function of both temperature and mass, so the large mass of the iceberg contributes significantly to its total thermal energy.