Anna looks around the skating rink and notices many examples of the movement of thermal energy. For example, she sees her friend holding a cup of hot chocolate in the cold rink. Thermal energy flows from

The thermal energy always flows from the hotter to the colder region.

In case of a hot drink such as the hot chocolate, the thermal energy of the drink present in the vessel is high, which makes the drink hotter. the thermal energy in this case flows from the drink to the environment, as it is in direct contact with the outside environment. the temperature difference between the drink and the environment creates an energy gradient, which make the energy flow from drink to environment.