Question

A hot metal plate at 150°C has been placed in air at room temperature. Which event would most likely take place

over the next few minutes?
Molecules in both the metal and the surrounding air will start moving at lower speeds.
Molecules in both the metal and the surrounding air will start moving at higher speeds.
The air molecules that are surrounding the metal will slow down, and the molecules in the metal will speed up.
The air molecules that are surrounding the metal will speed up, and the molecules in the metal will slow down.

Answer 1

Molecules in both the metal and the surrounding air will start moving at higher speeds.

Step-by-step explanation:

Temperature is defined as a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a body.

The greater the temperature of a body, the greater the average kinetic energy of the molecules of the body and the greater the speed of the particles of the body.

A metal at 150°C will witness an increase in the average kinetic energy of its molecules, the molecules will speed up as temperature increases.

Similarly, the hot metal plate releases heat to the surrounding air molecules by radiation causing the surrounding air molecules to experience an increase in temperature and average kinetic energy. Thus the air molecules surrounding the metal hot plate also speed up.