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A frozen popsicle is sitting outside in the sun. How will energy travel between the cold popsicle and the warm air around the popsicle?

2 Answers

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Final answer:

When a frozen popsicle sits outside in the sun, heat energy is transferred from the warm air to the popsicle, causing it to melt.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a frozen popsicle sits outside in the sun, energy is transferred between the cold popsicle and the warm air around it through the process of heat transfer.

The warm air around the popsicle transfers heat energy to the popsicle, causing it to melt.

This energy transfer occurs because heat always flows from a warmer object to a cooler object, until both objects reach thermal equilibrium.

User Ehz
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Answer:

When the frozen popsicle sitting outside in the Sun is exposed to warm air, energy will travel between the popsicle and the warm air as follows;

1) Convection current

Heat will be gained by the frozen popsicle by coming into contact with fresh warm air as the air flows around the popsicle while the cooling of the warm air will cause the water vapor in the air to condense and form the visible mist

In turn the popsicle will gain heat resulting in melting of the ice

2) Conduction

As the some of the mist from the air settles on the popsicle, they share their heat resulting further melting of the popsicle

3) Radiation

Radiated heat energy from the Sun is absorbed by the popsicle resulting in the melting of the popsicle

Step-by-step explanation:

User Itsclarke
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