Question

A hot metal plate at 150°C has been placed in air at room temperature. Which event would most likely take place over the next few minutes?
Molecules in both the metal and the surrounding air will start moving at lower speeds.
Molecules in both the metal and the surrounding air will start moving at higher speeds.
The air molecules that are surrounding the metal will slow down, and the molecules in the metal will speed up.
The air molecules that are surrounding the metal will speed up, and the molecules in the metal will slow down.

Answer 1

The air molecules that are surrounding the metal will speed up, and the molecules in the metal will slow down.

Reason: heat flows from the hotter object to the cooler surroundings, so the metal loses thermal energy (its molecules lose average kinetic energy) while the nearby air gains that energy (its molecules increase average kinetic energy) until temperatures approach equilibrium.