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

1 answer

To compare the thermal energy and particle motion of the coffee and lake water, consider the following:

  1. Total Thermal Energy: The total thermal energy of a substance depends on both its temperature and the number of particles present. The lake has a large volume of cold water, which means it contains a significant number of water molecules. Even though the water is colder, the sheer volume gives it a large total thermal energy. The coffee, while hot, has a much smaller volume and thus less total thermal energy than the lake.

  2. Particle Motion: Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Since the coffee is hot, its particles are moving faster compared to the particles in the cold lake water.

Based on this understanding:

  • The lake will have more total thermal energy due to its large volume.
  • The particles in the coffee will be moving faster because the coffee is hot.

Thus, the accurate statement is:

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