A student lists some possible ways to investigate the transfer of kinetic energy using ice in a sample of water. Which procedure would be best to investigate the transfer of kinetic energy?

Option 1:
Record temperature of water.
Put ice in water.
Record temperature after ice melts.
Option 2:
Put ice in water.
Touch water to determine if it feels colder after ice melts.
Option 3:
Measure the mass of the water.
Put ice in water.
Measure the mass of water as ice cubes melt.
Option 4:
Determine temperature and mass of water.
Put ice in water.
Record the time for ice to melt.

1 answer

To effectively investigate the transfer of kinetic energy using ice in a sample of water, the procedure should allow for a quantifiable and repeatable measurement of temperature changes along with the mass of both the ice and water, as these factors are essential for understanding energy transfer.

Option 1 involves recording the temperature of the water before and after the ice melts, which gives clear initial and final state readings. However, it doesn't account for the mass of the water or how long the process takes.

Option 2 relies on subjective feelings of temperature and is not a rigorous scientific method.

Option 3 measures the mass of the water but incorrectly suggests measuring the mass of water as ice cubes melt, which is not practical since the mass of water will remain constant as the ice melts into it.

Option 4 is the best procedure. It determines both the temperature and mass of water, puts ice in water, and records the time for the ice to melt. This procedure allows for a comprehensive understanding of how kinetic energy is transferred (through temperature change) while also considering the mass involved in the system.

Therefore, Option 4 is the best choice for investigating the transfer of kinetic energy.