Question

A metal radiator's temperature falls from 90 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. What has happened to the thermal energy contained by the radiator?

A.
It has increased.
B.
It has remained constant.
C.
It has decreased.
D.
It has been destroyed.

Answer 1

C energy cannot be created or destroyed

Answer 2

The answer is C. It has decreased.

Step-by-step explanation:

As the metal radiator’s temperature fell from 90 degrees to 40 degrees Celsius, the thermal energy (quantity of heat or heat energy which depends on the temperature: the higher the temperature, the higher the thermal energy, and vice-versa) decreased because heat was dissipated from the radiator; as a result, the molecules lost thermal energy.