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