Question

The graph below shows the change in water temperature of a glass or tap water placed into a freezer. What can be concluded from the graph?

1) The temperature of the water decreases over time
2) The temperature of the water increases over time
3) The temperature of the water remains constant over time
4) The temperature of the water fluctuates over time

Answer 1

The temperature of water in a glass placed in a freezer decreases over time, holds constant during the phase change from liquid to solid at the 0°C point, and then decreases again after all the water has frozen. So, the correct answer is 1) The temperature of the water decreases over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question requires an analysis of a graph showing how the temperature of water changes when it's placed in a freezer.

From the information provided, we can infer that as the water cools down, the temperature should decrease over time, stabilizing at 0°C while it transitions from liquid to solid -- a phase change -- due to the latent heat of fusion.

However, the temperature doesn't immediately continue to decrease; it holds constant at the melting/freezing point until all the water has frozen, and only then will the temperature of the ice begin to further decrease as the freezer continues to remove heat from the ice.

So, the correct answer is 1) The temperature of the water decreases over time.