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Item NG022004: When water that is 40ºF is poured into a cup that is 70ºF, thermal energy is transferred from the cup to the water until they reach the same temperature.

The temperature of a plastic cup is 70ºF.  It is filled with water that is 40ºF.  Which of the following could describe the transfer of energy between the cup and the water and the final temperatures of the cup and the water?

  1. Energy is transferred from the water to the cup until they are both at 45ºF.
  2. Energy is transferred from the cup to the water until they are both at 45ºF.
  3. Energy is transferred from the cup to the water until the cup is at 60ºF and the water is at 50ºF.
  4. No energy is transferred between the cup and the water, so the cup will stay at 70ºF and the water will stay at 40ºF.
Distribution of responses
Answer Choice
Overall
Grades
Gender
Primary Language
 
n = 1447
4–5
n = 314
6–8
n = 635
9–12
n = 498
Male
n = 658
Female
n = 761
English
n = 1263
Other
n = 156
A. 22%25% 21% 21% 21% 22% 22% 18%
B. 32%19% 36% 36% 32% 33% 33% 24%
C. 32%34% 32% 31% 34% 30% 32% 37%
D. 14%21% 11% 13% 13% 15% 13% 20%