Question

alekseis family purchased a new water heater that is a heat pump. after installation, aleksei noticed that the room containing the new water heater felt cooler than the rest of the house. what is the best explanation for why the room with the heat pump was cooler than the rest of the house? thermal energy from the water was transferred to the surrounding air. the burning fuel increased the thermal energy in the air. thermal energy from the air surrounding the water heater was transferred to the water. the burning fuel absorbed thermal energy from the surrounding air.

Explanation:

A heat pump water heater works by transferring thermal energy. In this case, thermal energy from the air surrounding the water heater (in the room) is transferred to the water. This removal of thermal energy from the room air makes the room (where the water heater is) cooler than the rest of the house.

• The first option is incorrect because it's the opposite of what happens (heat is taken from the air, not given to the air by the water).
• The second option is wrong as a heat - pump water heater (not a fuel - burning one in the context of a typical heat pump) doesn't burn fuel in the way described here to increase air thermal energy.
• The fourth option is incorrect because heat pumps (in general, not fuel - burning devices as described in this wrong option) don't work by fuel absorbing heat from the air in this context.

Answer:

Thermal energy from the air surrounding the water heater was transferred to the water.