A 200 g aluminum block at 80 °C is gently lowered into 400 g of water at 20 °C inside…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Thermal Properties of Matter · Thermal Properties of Matter
Problem
A 200 g aluminum block at 80 °C is gently lowered into 400 g of water at 20 °C inside an insulated container. Considering the water as the system and neglecting any energy interactions other than thermal contact between the water and the block, which statement best describes the thermal interaction during the approach to equilibrium?
(a) The water’s temperature remains constant because the insulated container prevents any heat transfer into or out of it.
(b) The water is being heated because energy enters it from the hotter aluminum.
(c) Because aluminum is a better thermal conductor than water, energy actually flows from the water into the block, so the water is cooled.
(d) The water both gains and loses thermal energy at the same time, so its net energy change is zero during the approach to equilibrium.