Question

A metal spoon is placed in a cup of hot coffee. Why does the temperature of the cup with spoon decrease after a short time?

• A. Energy is removed from the coffee mostly by conduction through spoon.
• B. Energy is removed from the coffee mostly by convection through spoon.
• C. Energy is removed from the coffee mostly by radiation through spoon.
• D. The metal in the spoon has an extremely large specific heat.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Energy is removed from the coffee mostly by conduction through spoon.

1. When the metal spoon is placed in a cup of hot coffee, the temperature of the metal spoon starts rising and the temperature of hot coffee starts falling till it attains thermal equilibrium.
2. This heat transfer takes place through the phenomenon of conduction.
3. Conduction only occurs between two materials at different temperatures and when they are touching each other.

Hence, option A is correct.