Question

select the correct answer. john is riding a ski lift to the top of wildcat mountain. he removes his gloves and rapidly rubs his hands together to warm them up. what happens when john rubs his hands? a. the skin on his hands rapidly conducts heat, similar to metal. b. he traps heat between his hands because skin is an insulator. c. the particles in his hands vibrate faster because of friction. d. thermal energy moves from his fingertips to his palms. e. he simulates a fever thatll raise his core body temperature.

Explanation:

When John rubs his hands, friction between them causes the particles in his hands to vibrate faster. Faster - vibrating particles mean higher kinetic energy, which is manifested as an increase in temperature. Skin is not a good conductor like metal (ruling out A), and rubbing hands doesn't trap heat because skin is an insulator in the context of this question's focus on friction - generated heat (ruling out B). There is no transfer of thermal energy from fingertips to palms as the main process here (ruling out D), and rubbing hands doesn't simulate a fever (ruling out E).

Answer:

C. The particles in his hands vibrate faster because of friction.