Question
17. A flowing stream contains water at 18 degrees Celsius. Cans of soft drinks at 28 degrees Celsius are lowered into the stream. Which of the following will most likely occur? The soft drink cans will absorb cold energy from the stream's water The cans will give up their heat until their temperature is the same as the stream's. The temperature of the soft drinks will not change since the cans are sealed. The temperature of the cans will Il decrease to freezing as long as the stream is flowing.
Answer
4.2
(144 Votes)
Gerald
Veteran · Tutor for 9 years
Answer
The cans will give up their heat until their temperature is the same as the stream's.
Explanation
This question is about the transfer of heat between two bodies of different temperatures. When two bodies with different temperatures come into contact, heat will flow from the warmer body to the cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached. In this case, the cans of soft drinks are at a higher temperature (28 degrees Celsius) than the stream water (18 degrees Celsius). Since the cans are not insulated, they will exchange heat with the surrounding water. The cans will lose heat to the water because the water is cooler. The temperature of the soft drinks inside the cans will decrease as they give up heat to the water. The cans will not absorb heat from the water since the water is at a lower temperature. The temperature of the soft drinks will change despite the cans being sealed because the cans' material will conduct heat. The temperature of the cans will not decrease to freezing just because the stream is flowing; they will only cool down to the temperature of the stream water.