Imagine you pour 250 mL of hot cocoa into an insulated Thermos and another 250 mL into a ceramic cup. Explain why the cocoa in the Thermos stays warm for hours but the cocoa in the ceramic cup gets cold quickly, referring to thermal energy transfer
The reason the cocoa in the Thermos stays warm for longer than the cocoa in the ceramic cup is due to the differences in thermal energy transfer.
The Thermos is designed with double walls and a vacuum between them, which helps to minimize heat transfer between the hot cocoa and the outside environment. This means that the cocoa inside the Thermos retains its heat for a longer period of time, as the thermal energy is not easily transferred to the cooler surroundings.
On the other hand, the ceramic cup does not have insulation properties like the Thermos, so it allows for more rapid heat transfer. This means that the cocoa in the ceramic cup loses its heat more quickly to the cooler air around it, resulting in the cocoa cooling down faster.
Overall, the insulation provided by the Thermos significantly reduces the amount of thermal energy transferred from the hot cocoa to the outside environment, allowing it to stay warm for hours.