Joseph puts a piece of toast on a plate. The toast is hot from the toaster. When he puts the toast on the plate, the energy of the plate increases. What must be true of the energy of the toast?

Question

Responses

a
Its energy stays the same while the energy of the plate increases.
Its energy stays the same while the energy of the plate increases.

b
Its energy decreases while the energy of the plate increases.
Its energy decreases while the energy of the plate increases.

c
Its energy increases while the energy of the plate increases.
Its energy increases while the energy of the plate increases.

d
It is impossible to know without data on the number of molecules in each object.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

b: Its energy decreases while the energy of the plate increases.

When the hot toast is placed on the plate, heat energy is transferred from the toast to the plate. Therefore, as the plate absorbs thermal energy and its energy increases, the toast loses some of its thermal energy, resulting in a decrease in its energy.