Two identical copper blocks are placed on an insulating table
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
Two identical copper blocks are placed on an insulating table. Block X is initially at 365 K, while Block Y is at 305 K. The blocks are then brought into direct contact and the system is allowed to evolve without any external energy exchange until thermal equilibrium is reached.
(a) Describe the direction of energy transfer between Block X and Block Y immediately after they are placed in contact, referencing the particulate-level interactions that occur at the interface.
(b) Explain how the average kinetic energy of the copper atoms in each block changes over time as the system approaches equilibrium.
(c) Once equilibrium is achieved, state the relationship between the temperatures of the two blocks and the average kinetic energies of their atoms. Support your answer with reasoning based on molecular collisions.