Question

In 2 to 3 sentences, explain how heat transfer and thermal energy affected the melting of the ice cubes.

Answer 1

Heat flows from the warmer air, tray, and water into the colder ice by conduction and convection, increasing the ice’s thermal energy. Once the ice absorbs enough energy equal to its latent heat of fusion, its structure breaks down and it melts into water—larger temperature differences, more surface area, or faster air/water movement speed up that heat transfer and thus the melting.