An iron block with a temperature of 250 degrees Celcius is placed into a container of water with a temperature of 50 degrees Celcius. Which statement best describes what will be observed in this experiment?

Question

A. Heat will flow from the iron block to the water until both are 250 degrees Celcius.

B. Heat will flow from the iron block to the water until both are 50 degrees Celcius.

C. Heat will flow from the water to the iron block until both are at the temperature of the container.

D. Heat will flow from the iron block to the block to the water until both reach a temperature somewhere between 500 degrees Celsius and 250 degrees Celsius.

Answer 1

The best statement that describes what will be observed in this experiment is:

D. Heat will flow from the iron block to the water until both reach a temperature somewhere between 50 degrees Celsius and 250 degrees Celsius.

In this scenario, the iron block, being at a higher temperature (250 degrees Celsius), will lose heat to the water, which is at a lower temperature (50 degrees Celsius), until thermal equilibrium is reached. The final temperature will be between the initial temperatures of both the iron and the water, but not exceeding the initial temperatures.