Question

an experiment in heat transfer
diagram: styrofoam cup with metal soda can inside
students conducted a simple experiment to explore heat transfer. they constructed the closed system you see here: a metal soda can inside a styrofoam cup. the metal can was filled with 80°c water and placed into the styrofoam cup containing cooler water, 15°c. the students predicted that the water in the metal can would decrease in temperature while the water temperature inside the cup would increase.
4c part a
one student in the group questioned the prediction: “how can heat energy move? there is nothing moving from the can to the cup!” how would you respond to this student?
a the student is correct. since a reaction is being transferred from one location to the other, the prediction is incorrect.
b there is a change between the two containers. heat from the hot water is being transferred to the metal in styrofoam cup.
c heat moves mostly out of the metal cup because it is a conductor, but stops when it moves into the styrofoam cup, an insulator.
d there is a change between the two containers. thermal energy from the hot water is being transferred to the water in styrofoam cup.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze heat transfer principles. Heat flows from higher temperature to lower temperature. The metal can has 80°C water, the cup has 15°C water. Heat energy (not cold energy) transfers from hot to cold.

• Option A: Wrong, cold energy doesn't transfer; heat (thermal energy) does.
• Option B: Wrong, heat goes from hot (metal can water) to cold (cup water), not the other way.
• Option C: Wrong, heat doesn't "stop" in styrofoam (insulator), it just transfers slowly.
• Option D: Correct, thermal energy (heat) moves from hot water (80°C in can) to cooler water (15°C in cup) as there's a temperature difference.

Answer:

D. There is a change between the two containers. Thermal energy from the hot water is being transferred to the water in styrofoam cup.