You fill two identical mugs with coffee, but the coffee in one mug is at a higher temperature than that in the other mug. You place the two mugs simultaneously in a microwave oven and turn it on briefly. As a result, you add 1 joule of thermal energy to each mug. Which mug experiences the larger increase in entropy (if any)?
A) The two mugs experience equal increases in entropy.
B) The mug containing the colder coffee experiences the larger increase in entropy.
C) Neither mug experiences any increase in entropy.
D) The mug containing the hotter coffee experiences the larger increase in entropy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The increase in entropy for a given amount of energy is larger at lower temperatures, so the mug with the colder coffee experiences a larger increase in entropy.

You Fill Two Identical Mugs with Coffee, but the Coffee