A student arranges two blocks of copper next to each other so that they are touching. At the start of the experiment, Block 1’s temperature is 40°C, and Block 2’s temperature is 20°C. The two blocks remain in an isolated system until all heat energy is transferred. Which picture correctly shows the blocks’ ending temperatures?(1 point) Responses Skip to navigation

Answer 1

In an isolated system where two blocks of different temperatures are in contact, heat will flow from the hotter block to the cooler block until thermal equilibrium is reached.

In this scenario, Block 1 starts at 40°C, and Block 2 starts at 20°C. After heat transfer occurs and thermal equilibrium is established, the final temperature of both blocks will be somewhere between 20°C and 40°C. Without specific thermal properties (like specific heat capacities) of the two blocks being provided, we can only say that both blocks will have the same final temperature (let's denote it as T_f), which is likely to be closer to the initial temperature of Block 1 (40°C) since it starts at a higher temperature.

A sketch showing both blocks at a uniform temperature T_f (which would be between 20°C and 40°C) would be correct. If given options, look for an image representing both blocks at the same temperature after they have reached thermal equilibrium.