A glass of ice-cold water left on a table on a hot summer day eventually warms up, whereas a cup of hot tea on the same table cools down because

Question

A glass of ice-cold water left on a table on a hot summer day eventually warms up, whereas a cup of hot tea on the same table cools down because (A) its surrounding media are at different temperature (B) the direction of heat flow depends on the surrounding temperature with respect to the body (C) heating or cooling does not depend on surrounding temperature (D) Both (a) and (b)

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

When the temperature of a body and its surrounding medium are different, then heat transfer takes place between them.
The direction of heat flow depends on the surrounding temperature with respect to that of body.
In given case, the ice-cold water having lower temperature than the surrounding, when left on a table on a hot summer day takes heat from surrounding and warms up, whereas a cup of tea having higher temperature than surrounding cools down by releasing heat to surrounding.
Thus, both the statements given in options (a) and (b) are correct.

Q. A glass of ice-cold water left on a table on a hot summer day eventually warms up, whereas a cup of hot tea on the same table cools down because

its surrounding media are at different temperature

the direction of heat flow depends on the surrounding temperature with respect to the body

heating or cooling does not depend on surrounding temperature

Both (a) and (b)