Initial Temperature (°C) Final Temperature (°C)

Question

Water in Metal Can 80 45
Water in Styrofoam Cup 10 45

Students conducted a simple experiment to explore heat transfer. They constructed the closed system you see here: a metal soda can inside a styrofoam cup. The metal can was filled with 80°C water and placed into the styrofoam cup containing colder water, 10°C. The students predicted that the water in the metal can would decrease in temperature while the water temperature inside the cup would increase. Base on the student data recorded in the data table, the prediction was correct. Explain how the transfer of heat energy occurred. Select ALL the statements that could apply.
Responses
A Heat energy travels from high to low until equilibrium is met.Heat energy travels from high to low until equilibrium is met.
B Heat is transferred from one location to another via particle collisions.Heat is transferred from one location to another via particle collisions.
C The hot water had the highest temperature,and the greatest potential energy.The hot water had the highest temperature,and the greatest potential energy.
D The water in the can had less kinetic energy than the water in the outside cup.The water in the can had less kinetic energy than the water in the outside cup.
E Particle collisions transferred that energy from the hot water, to the can, and then to the cooler water.

Answer 1

The correct statements that apply to the explanation of how heat transfer occurred in this experiment are:

A. Heat energy travels from high to low until equilibrium is met.
This statement is true because heat transfer occurs from the region of higher temperature (the hot water) to the region of lower temperature (the cooler water) until thermal equilibrium is reached.

B. Heat is transferred from one location to another via particle collisions.
This statement is also true as heat transfer occurs due to collisions between particles. The faster-moving (hotter) water molecules collide with slower-moving (cooler) water molecules, transferring energy in the process.

E. Particle collisions transferred that energy from the hot water, to the can, and then to the cooler water.
This statement accurately describes the process of heat transfer in this scenario. The hot water in the can transfers heat to the metal can (through particle collisions), and then the can transfers heat to the cooler water in the Styrofoam cup.

The other statements are not applicable:

C. The hot water had the highest temperature, and the greatest potential energy.
While the hot water does have the highest temperature, the concept of potential energy is not relevant to heat transfer in this context. It is more about kinetic energy due to temperature.

D. The water in the can had less kinetic energy than the water in the outside cup.
This statement is false. Before the heat transfer began, the water in the can had more kinetic energy (because it was at a higher temperature) than the water in the Styrofoam cup.