Question

hot coffee in a mug cools over time and the mug warms up. which describes the energy in this system? the average kinetic energy of the particles in the mug decreases. the average kinetic energy of the particles in the coffee increases. thermal energy from the mug is transferred to the coffee. thermal energy from the coffee is transferred to the mug.

Explanation:

Thermal energy transfers from a hotter object to a colder one. Here, hot coffee is hotter than the mug initially. As the coffee cools and the mug warms, thermal energy is transferred from the coffee to the mug. The average kinetic energy of particles in a substance is related to its temperature. As the coffee cools, its particles' average kinetic energy decreases and as the mug warms, its particles' average kinetic energy increases.

Answer:

Thermal energy from the coffee is transferred to the mug.