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 a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a body. Thus, as the temperature of a body increases, its molecules tend to move faster.

At a high temperature of 150°C, the molecules in the metal hot plate move faster. Similarly, this heat is also transferred to the surrounding air molecules and they too start moving faster.

Therefore at 150°C, molecules in both the metal and the surrounding air will start moving at higher speeds.