Question

unit exam: thermal energy and earths processes during an investigation, students placed two metal blocks at different temperatures in an insulated container. they wanted to study thermal energy transfer. after a few minutes, they measured the temperatures of both blocks. they found that the temperatures had become equal. based on the results of this investigation, what can be concluded about the overall temperature of the closed system? the overall temperature of the system increased to a higher value over time. the overall temperature of the system stayed at the same value throughout. the overall temperature of the system dropped completely to zero over time. the overall temperature of the system decreased to a lower value over time

Explanation:

In a closed - insulated system, there is no heat exchange with the surroundings. According to the law of conservation of energy, the total thermal energy in the system is conserved. When two metal blocks at different temperatures are placed in the insulated container, heat is transferred from the hotter block to the colder block until they reach thermal equilibrium (equal temperatures). But the overall thermal energy and thus the overall temperature of the closed - system remains the same as there is no external heat input or output.

Answer:

The overall temperature of the system stayed at the same value throughout.