Question

An aluminum block has a starting temperature of 300oC. The block is placed into 200 milliliters of water, which has a temperature of 20oC. What heat transfer will occur?(1 point)
Responses

Heat will flow from the block to the water until both substances have a temperature between 20 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celcius.
Heat will flow from the block to the water until both substances have a temperature between 20 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celcius.

Heat will flow from the block to the water until both substances have a temperature of 20 degrees Celcius.
Heat will flow from the block to the water until both substances have a temperature of 20 degrees Celcius.

Heat will flow from the block to the water until both have a temperature of 300oC.
Heat will flow from the block to the water until both have a temperature of 300oC.

Heat will flow from the block to the water until both substances have the same temperature as their container.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

**Heat will flow from the block to the water until both substances have a temperature between 20 degrees Celsius and 300 degrees Celsius.**

This statement accurately reflects the principle of thermal equilibrium, whereby heat energy transfers from the hotter object (aluminum block at 300°C) to the cooler object (water at 20°C) until they reach a common temperature between their initial temperatures. The final equilibrium temperature will be somewhere between 20°C and 300°C, rather than either of the extremes.