Which of the following statements is correct?
A) You only need to know the amount of thermal energy a body contains to calculate its temperature.
B) The temperature of a body is directly proportional to the amount of work the body has performed.
C) The quantity of thermal energy exchanged by two bodies in contact is inversely proportional to the difference in their temperatures.
D) The quantity of thermal energy exchanged by two bodies in contact is directly proportional to the difference in their temperatures.
E) Different amounts of thermal energy are transferred between two bodies in contact if different temperature scales are used to measure the temperature difference between the bodies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the statement of the question, the correct option is the one that describes the quantity of thermal energy exchanged by two bodies in contact. Option A is incorrect because the amount of thermal energy alone is not indicative of temperature - the mass of the body also plays a role. Option B is incorrect because temperature and work are not directly proportional. Option C is incorrect because the quantity of thermal energy exchanged is proportional to the difference in temperatures, not inversely proportional. Option E is incorrect because the amount of thermal energy transferred between two bodies in contact only depends on the temperature difference, not on the scale used to measure it. Therefore, the correct option is D: the quantity of thermal energy exchanged by two bodies in contact is directly proportional to the difference in their temperatures.

Which of the Following Statements Is Correct