Question

Aya performed an experiment in which she placed three pairs of identical copper blocks into three vacuum chambers. For each pair of blocks, one block was left at room temperature, 25°C, and the other block was heated to 100°C. In the first chamber, the pair of blocks were placed next to each other in direct contact. In the second chamber, the blocks were placed six inches apart. In the third chamber, the blocks were placed six inches apart and then the chamber was filled with oxygen gas. Each chamber was observed for one hour, then the temperature of each block was measured. The diagram illustrates the experiment.



Which of the following tables most likely describes the experiment?
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Answer 1

To describe the results of Aya's experiment, we should consider the modes of heat transfer involved—conduction, convection, and radiation—and how they would affect the temperature of the copper blocks under the different conditions of each chamber.

1. **First Chamber (blocks in direct contact)**: Since the blocks are in direct contact, heat will transfer efficiently through conduction. The heated block at 100°C will transfer heat to the block at 25°C, causing the temperature of the cooler block to rise.

2. **Second Chamber (blocks six inches apart)**: Since the blocks are apart, heat transfer through conduction is not possible. However, some heat might be lost through radiation, but it will likely be minimal due to the vacuum. Therefore, the temperature of the cooler block will not change significantly.

3. **Third Chamber (blocks six inches apart in oxygen gas)**: This setup allows for some heat transfer through convection in the gas. However, since the block is at a distance and the gas is in a vacuum, the effect might not be very pronounced. The cooler block will still not gain much heat compared to the first chamber, but it may gain slightly more than in the second chamber due to the presence of gas.

Based on these considerations, the most likely results for the temperature of the 25°C block after one hour in each chamber would look like this:

| Chamber | Temperature of the Heated Block (°C) | Temperature of the Room Temperature Block (°C) |
|----------------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| Direct Contact | 100 | Higher than 25 (close to 100 or a significant increase) |
| Six Inches Apart | 100 | Slightly above 25 (but not much change) |
| Six Inches Apart (Oxygen) | 100 | Possibly slightly above 25 (more increase than just vacuum) |

This table summarizes the expected temperature outcomes of the experiment based on the described conditions.