Determine whether each process is endothermic or exothermic.(3 points)

Endothermic Exothermic
a fire (the system is the fire)

a car engine (the system is the engine)

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 transfer and changes involved in each process:

  1. A fire (the system is the fire):

    • This process is exothermic. A fire releases energy in the form of heat and light as it burns fuel, indicating that energy is being released to the surroundings.
  2. A car engine (the system is the engine):

    • This process is also exothermic. A car engine converts chemical energy from fuel into mechanical energy, producing heat as a byproduct. The combustion of fuel releases energy, which raises the temperature of the engine and its components.
  3. A melting ice sculpture (the ice is the system):

    • This process is endothermic. Melting involves absorbing heat from the surroundings to change the solid (ice) to a liquid (water). The ice takes in energy to overcome the forces holding its molecules in a solid state.

Here's a summary:

  • Endothermic: Melting ice sculpture
  • Exothermic: Fire, Car engine