Determine whether each process is endothermic or exothermic.

1. a fire (the system is the fire)
2. a car engine (the system is the engine)
3. a melting ice sculpture (the ice is the system)

1 answer

To determine whether each process is endothermic or exothermic, we need to consider the energy flow in each scenario:

  1. A fire (the system is the fire): This process is exothermic. A fire releases heat energy into the surroundings as it consumes fuel, resulting in an increase in temperature around it.

  2. A car engine (the system is the engine): This process is also exothermic. Car engines burn fuel (such as gasoline or diesel), which releases energy in the form of heat as it converts chemical energy into kinetic energy to power the car.

  3. A melting ice sculpture (the ice is the system): This process is endothermic. When ice melts, it absorbs heat from the surroundings in order to change from a solid to a liquid state, which results in a cooling effect in the environment around the ice sculpture.

In summary:

  1. Fire - Exothermic
  2. Car engine - Exothermic
  3. Melting ice sculpture - Endothermic