An iron block with a temperature of 250 degrees Celcius is placed into a container of water with a temperature of 50 degrees Celcius. Which statement best describes what will be observed in this experiment?
The iron block will lose heat to the water, causing both the iron block and the water to reach a common temperature.
In this experiment, the iron block with a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius is placed into a container of water with a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. The following observations can be expected:
1. Heat transfer: Since the iron block is at a higher temperature than the water, heat transfer will occur from the iron block to the water. This means that the iron block will lose heat while the water will gain heat.
2. Temperature equilibrium: Eventually, heat will continue to transfer between the iron block and the water until they reach thermal equilibrium. This means that both the iron block and the water will reach the same final temperature.
3. Increase in water temperature: As the heat transfers from the iron block to the water, the temperature of the water will increase. This is because the water gains heat from the higher temperature source (the iron block).
4. Decrease in iron block temperature: Conversely, as heat is transferred from the iron block to the water, the temperature of the iron block will decrease. This is because the iron block loses heat to the lower temperature sink (the water).
5. Stable temperature: Eventually, both the iron block and the water will reach a stable final temperature, which will be between the initial temperatures of the two substances (i.e., between 250 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius).
Therefore, the best description of the experiment is that the iron block will transfer heat to the water, causing an increase in water temperature and a decrease in the iron block temperature until they reach thermal equilibrium.