Simone has a mug of hot tea at a temperature of 90°C. She sets the mug on a counter in a room with an air temperature of 30°C. What is most likely to happen to the temperature of the hot tea?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The hot tea will transfer thermal energy into the air, and the energy transfer will continue until the tea is at room temperature.
The hot tea will transfer thermal energy into the air, and the energy transfer will continue until the tea is at room temperature.

The hot tea will transfer thermal energy into the air and will continue to transfer energy until they are both 90°C.
The hot tea will transfer thermal energy into the air and will continue to transfer energy until they are both 90°C.

The air will transfer thermal energy into the tea and will continue to transfer energy until they are both 90°C.
The air will transfer thermal energy into the tea and will continue to transfer energy until they are both 90°C.

The air will transfer thermal energy into the tea, and the energy transfer will continue until the tea is at room temperature.
The air will transfer thermal energy into the tea, and the energy transfer will continue until the tea is at room temperature.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

The hot tea will transfer thermal energy into the air, and the energy transfer will continue until the tea is at room temperature.

This is because heat transfer occurs from the hotter object (the tea) to the cooler environment (the air) until they reach thermal equilibrium, which in this case will be the room temperature of 30°C.