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Item NG061002: When cold butter is placed on top of hot corn, thermal energy is transferred from the corn to the butter but not from the butter to the corn.

A cook heats an ear of corn in a pot of hot water.  She takes the corn out of the hot water and puts it on a plate.  Then she takes some butter out of the refrigerator.  She cuts a piece of cold butter and places it on top of the hot corn.

Which of the following describes how thermal energy is transferred between the corn and the butter?

  1. Thermal energy is transferred both from the corn to the butter and from the butter to the corn.
  2. Thermal energy is transferred from the corn to the butter but not from the butter to the corn.
  3. Thermal energy is transferred from the butter to the corn but not from the corn to the butter.
  4. Thermal energy is not transferred between the corn and the butter.
Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 2942
6–8
n = 1764
9–12
n = 1172
Male
n = 1431
Female
n = 1453
English
n = 2639
Other
n = 226
A. 35% 34% 37% 33% 36% 35% 37%
B. 44% 43% 47% 45% 44% 45% 33%
C. 13% 16% 10% 14% 13% 13% 19%
D. 7% 8% 6% 8% 7% 7% 11%