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title: "A metal spoon at room temperature is placed into a thermally insulated cup containing hot tea. Which of the following claims correctly describes the direction of net energy transfer and the microscopic condition present when the spoon and tea reach thermal equilibrium?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/116136/"
date_modified: "2026-08-03T11:45:57+00:00"
---

# A metal spoon at room temperature is placed into a thermally insulated cup containing hot tea. Which of the following claims correctly describes the direction of net energy transfer and the microscopic condition present when the spoon and tea reach thermal equilibrium?

A metal spoon at room temperature is placed into a thermally insulated cup containing hot tea. Which of the following claims correctly describes the direction of net energy transfer and the microscopic condition present when the spoon and tea reach thermal equilibrium?

- **A.** Net energy is transferred from the spoon to the tea because metals conduct thermal energy, stopping when the total internal energy of the tea equals the total internal energy of the spoon.
- **B.** Net energy is transferred from the tea to the spoon, stopping when the total internal energy of the tea equals the total internal energy of the spoon.
- **C.** Net energy is transferred from the tea to the spoon via particle collisions, stopping when the average kinetic energy of the particles in the tea equals the average kinetic energy of the particles in the spoon.
- **D.** Net energy is transferred from the tea to the spoon, stopping when particle motion in both the tea and the spoon completely ceases.

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