Joshua fills one large container with cold water Then he fills a small container with hot water and red food coloring, and seals it with a lid. Next, he puts the small container into the large container and removes the lid of the small container. He observes the red colored water from the small container rising up to the top of the cold water. Which two statements explain why this happens?

Question

because the hot water has the same density as the cold water
because the hot water has the same density as the cold water

because the hot water is less dense than the cold water
because the hot water is less dense than the cold water

because the hot water molecules move faster than those of cold water
because the hot water molecules move faster than those of cold water

because the hot water molecules move as fast as those of cold water
because the hot water molecules move as fast as those of cold water

because the hot water is more dense than the cold water

Answer 1

The two statements that explain why the red colored water from the small container rises to the top of the cold water are:

1. because the hot water is less dense than the cold water
2. because the hot water molecules move faster than those of cold water

Hot water is less dense than cold water, which causes it to rise. Additionally, the faster movement of the hot water molecules contributes to their ability to rise and mix with the colder water.