Question

A student puts a cold metal spoon into a hot cup of tea. What best describes the transfer of energy that happens at the molecular level?
(1 point)
Energy transfers from the tea's molecules to the spoon's molecules.
Energy is lost as the molecules in both the spoon and tea stop.
Chemical energy is created by the large difference in temperature.
Energy transfers from the spoon's molecules to the tea's molecules.

Answer 1

Energy transfers from the tea's molecules to the spoon's molecules.

Explanation: Heat flows from the hotter substance to the colder one by molecular collisions, increasing the spoon's molecular kinetic energy and slightly decreasing the tea's.