Question

A student heats a pot of water on a burner. When he leaves a metal spoon in the water, he notices that the handle gets hot. What happens to the metal atoms in the spoon? Select all that apply.
A.

The metal atoms stop moving.

B.

The metal atoms vibrate slower.

C.

The metals atoms vibrate faster.

D.

The metal atoms move closer together.

E.

The metal atoms release energy into the water.

F.

The metal atoms absorb energy from the water.

Answer 1

Correct answers: C and F.

Reason: Heat flows from the hot water into the cooler metal spoon, so the metal atoms absorb energy from the water (F). As they gain thermal energy their atoms vibrate faster (C). They do not stop moving or vibrate slower (A and B are false), and heating generally causes slight expansion, not the atoms moving closer together (D is false). E is not correct in this situation because the net energy transfer is from the water into the spoon, not from the spoon into the water.