A student with a body temperature of 37oC holds a can of cold soda with a temperature of 18oC. The student is in a room with an air temperature of 22oC. Which statement best describes the flow of heat throughout the entire system?

Answer 1

In this scenario, we have three bodies with different temperatures: the student (37°C), the cold soda can (18°C), and the room air (22°C).

The flow of heat can be understood as follows:

• Heat will flow from the student (the warmest body at 37°C) to the cold soda can (18°C), because heat always flows from a hotter object to a cooler object until thermal equilibrium is reached.

• Additionally, the cold soda can will absorb heat from the surrounding room air (22°C), which is warmer than the can.

Therefore, the best description of the flow of heat throughout the entire system is that heat flows from the student to the cold soda can, and simultaneously, the soda can absorbs heat from the room air. This heat exchange continues until thermal equilibrium is reached among the three bodies.