Two metal objects, X and Y, are placed in direct thermal contact inside an insulated container. After several minutes, a thermometer inserted into object X reads 37.8∘C and a second identical thermometer inserted into object Y reads 38.1∘C. Each thermometer has a stated accuracy of ±0.5∘C. Which of the following conclusions is most strongly supported by the temperature data?
(a) Energy continues to flow from Y to X because Y’s measured temperature is higher than X’s, so a temperature difference still exists.
(b) X and Y are in thermal equilibrium because their measured temperatures are the same within the thermometer uncertainty.
(c) Because the container is insulated, no heat can flow between X and Y, so the difference in thermometer readings must be due only to measurement error.
(d) No conclusion can be drawn because each thermometer could be off by up to ±0.5∘C, making their true temperatures differ by as much as 1∘C."