Question

A student tests two heating pads. One is made with a small hand towel, and the other uses a large dish towel. The larger pad stayed warm for 30 minutes, but the smaller one cooled down in 22 minutes. Explain why the larger heating pad performed better. Write your answer in 1-2 sentences.

(2 points)

Answer 1

The larger pad had a greater thermal mass (more fabric/water) so it stored more heat energy and, with a lower surface-area-to-volume ratio, lost heat more slowly; therefore it stayed warm longer than the smaller pad.