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Which has more internal energy a bathtub full of cool water or a cup of hot water?

User LorenzCK
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The bathtub full of cool water has more internal energy due to its larger mass and heat capacity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bathtub full of cool water has more internal energy than the cup of hot water.

Internal energy is the total kinetic and potential energy of the particles within a substance. It depends on both the mass and temperature of the substance. Although the cup of hot water has a higher temperature, the bathtub full of cool water has a much larger mass. The larger mass of the bathtub full of cool water gives it a higher heat capacity, which means it can store more energy.

Therefore, even though the cup of hot water has a higher temperature, the bathtub full of cool water has more internal energy.

User Nleslie
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