A bowling ball size probe from a spaceship and a pebble size object land on a large asteroid that is far from any star. After a long period of time has passed, it is highly probable that the pebble and the probe
A) have each had the same change in temperature.
B) have each had the same change in volume.
C) are in thermal equilibrium with one another.
D) are not in thermal equilibrium with one another.
E) are in thermal equilibrium with one another, but are not at the same temperature.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pebble and probe are in thermal equilibrium with each other because they are in contact with each other on the asteroid and there are no other sources of heat present. In thermal equilibrium, objects are at the same temperature and have the same average kinetic energy of the particles within them. Therefore, the pebble and probe would have reached the same temperature and have the same average kinetic energy over time, indicating that they are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

A Bowling Ball Size Probe from a Spaceship and a Pebble