Final answer:
The correct situation in which heat transfer occurs and the resulting forms of energy are identified in option a) Burning wood; this process releases thermal and radiant (light) energy, as well as some sound energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heat transfer refers to the movement of thermal energy from one place to another. Generally, heat moves from a warmer object to a cooler object, attempting to reach thermal equilibrium. Different forms of energy can result from this process. For example:
- Burning wood: This process releases thermal energy due to the atomic and molecular motion involved in combustion. As the wood burns, energy stored in the chemical bonds is released, also producing radiant energy in the form of light and some sound energy as the wood pops and crackles.
- Mixing salt in water: Dissolving salt in water is an example of an endothermic process, which means it absorbs heat from the surroundings. The main form of energy involved here is thermal energy, which is transferred from the environment to the water causing the salt to dissolve.
- Rolling a ball downhill: As the ball rolls down, it converts potential energy into kinetic energy due to its motion. Friction between the ball and the ground also generates a small amount of thermal energy.
- Compressing air in a tire: When air is compressed into a tire, the molecules are forced closer together which increases the air's thermal energy. No nuclear or magnetic energy is directly involved in this process.
From the given options, only a) Burning wood; light and sound energy correctly describes a situation in which heat transfer occurs and identifies the correct resulting forms of energy, which are mainly radiant (light) and, to a much lesser extent, sound energy.