Final answer:
Metal ice cream scoops work more efficiently than plastic scoops when dipped in warm water because metal conducts heat better than plastic.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best explanation for why a metal ice cream scoop works more efficiently than a plastic ice cream scoop when dipped in warm water prior to scooping the ice cream is that metal conducts heat better than plastic. In general, metals are good conductors of heat while plastics are poor conductors. When the metal scoop is dipped in warm water, it quickly absorbs heat from the water, causing the metal to warm up. This allows the metal scoop to more effectively transfer heat to the ice cream, making it easier to scoop.