Select all the correct answers.

A pot of water is heated over a fire, and then frozen peas are added to the hot water. What happens to the energy in this situation?

The energy gained by the peas is lost by the water.

The peas lose energy as they are heated in the water.

Energy is transferred from the peas to the water and the pot.

The water receives energy both from the fire and from the frozen peas.

Energy is transferred from the fire to the pot, then to the water, and then to the peas.

Question

Kristian

Chemistry

20 May, 20:31

Select all the correct answers.

A pot of water is heated over a fire, and then frozen peas are added to the hot water. What happens to the energy in this situation?

The energy gained by the peas is lost by the water.

The peas lose energy as they are heated in the water.

Energy is transferred from the peas to the water and the pot.

The water receives energy both from the fire and from the frozen peas.

Energy is transferred from the fire to the pot, then to the water, and then to the peas.

+1

Answers (1)

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Matthias · Answer 1

The energy gained by the peas is lost by the water;

Energy is transferred from the fire to the pot, then to the water, and then to the peas

Explanation:

According to the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, heat flows from hotter objects to colder ones.

Let's analyze the heat flow in each of the systems we have:

A pot of water is heated over a fire. We have a system of water/fire. Since water is heated, it gains heat. This means fire loses heat to water. Frozen peas are added to the hot water. We have a system of peas/water. In this scenario, water is hot. Thus, heat flows from water to peas (heat is lost by water and gained by peas).

Analyzing the answer choices, firstly we notice that the energy gained by the peas is lost by the water, as water is hotter than the peas. Hence, this is true.

Secondly, the peas gain energy, as energy is a synonym to heat. This means the fact that peas lose energy is false.

Thirdly, it's false to claim that energy is transferred from the peas to the water and the pot, as we actually have a reverse process: both pot and water are at a higher temperature and heat flows from them towards the peas at a lower temperature.

Fourthly, it's also false to claim that the water receives energy both from the ire and from the frozen peas: the water only gains energy from the fire that is at a higher temperature, but it loses energy to the frozen peas, as the water is hotter than the peas.

Finally, it's true that energy is transferred from the fire to the pot, then to the water, and then to the peas. This is simply understood knowing that the fire here is at the highest temperature and it directly interacts with the pot which transfers energy to the water. The water is now at a higher temperature relatively to the peas, so it transfers energy to the peas afterwards.