Question

Water is in a beaker at a temperature of 5 °C. An iron rod at a temperature of 30 °C is then placed in the water. Which statement best explains the heat transfer between the iron and water?

a) Heat flows from water to iron until the temperatures of both become equal.
b) Heat flows from iron to water until the temperatures of both become equal.
c) Heat flows from water to iron, and it continues to flow even after the temperatures of both become equal.
d) Heat flows from iron to water, and it continues to flow even after the temperatures of both become equal.

Answer 1

Heat flows from the 30 °C iron rod to the 5 °C water until both reach the same temperature, then no further net heat flow occurs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Heat transfer between two substances at different temperatures occurs from the warmer substance to the cooler one until thermal equilibrium is reached. In the scenario where a 30 °C iron rod is placed into water at 5 °C, the heat will flow from the iron to the water until both substances reach the same temperature. This is an example of a calorimetry problem where two bodies at different temperatures exchange heat until they settle at a common temperature. Remember, once equilibrium is reached, there is no further net flow of heat between the iron and the water.