A blacksmith is heating a piece of iron over a fire. He takes the hot metal and places it into cold water. Explain how heat would flow between the two substances.

Answer 1

The transfer of heat between the hot metal and cold water occurs through a process known as conduction. When the hot iron comes into contact with the cold water, the hot metal allows its heat energy to flow to the colder water. This happens because heat tends to move from hotter to colder objects until the temperature is equalized. In this case, the hot iron transfers its thermal energy to the surrounding molecules of the cold water, causing the water molecules to gain energy and become hotter. As a result, the temperature of the iron drops rapidly, while that of the water increases. This process is also aided by the fact that water conducts heat more efficiently than air, allowing for faster heat transfer.