A fisherman in a boat is drinking a cup of hot coffee. The large lake below his boat is full of cold water. Which statement is an accurate comparison of the lake water and the coffee?(1 point)ResponsesThe lake will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.The lake will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.The coffee will have more total thermal energy, and the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.The coffee will have more total thermal energy, and the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.The coffee will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the lake water will be moving faster.The coffee will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the lake water will be moving faster.The lake will have more total thermal energy, and the particles in the lake water will be moving faster.

1 answer

To accurately compare the thermal energy and particle motion of the lake water and the coffee, let's consider a few key factors:

  1. Total Thermal Energy: The lake, being large and full of cold water, has a significant volume and therefore a large total thermal energy. However, the water temperature is low.

  2. Particle Motion: The coffee is hot, which means the particles in the coffee are moving faster than those in the cold lake water. Temperature is directly related to the average kinetic energy of the particles; thus, the hot coffee will have faster-moving particles compared to the colder lake water.

Considering these points, the correct statement is:

The lake will have more total thermal energy, but the particles in the coffee will be moving faster.