A hot object and a cold object are placed in thermal contact and the combination is isolated. They transfer energy until they reach a common temperature. The change $\Delta$S_h in the entropy of the hot object, the change $\Delta$S_c in the entropy of the cold object, and the change $\Delta$S_total in the entropy of the combination are: A)$\Delta$S_h 0, $\Delta$S_c 0, $\Delta$S_total 0 B) $\Delta$S_h 0, $\Delta$S_total 0 C)$\Delta$S_h 0, $\Delta$S_total 0, $\Delta$S_c 0 E) $\Delta$S_h 0, $\Delta$S_c

Question

A hot object and a cold object are placed in thermal contact and the combination is isolated. They transfer energy until they reach a common temperature. The change $\Delta$S_h in the entropy of the hot object, the change $\Delta$S_c in the entropy of the cold object, and the change $\Delta$S_total in the entropy of the combination are: A)$\Delta$S_h > 0, $\Delta$S_c > 0, $\Delta$S_total > 0 B) $\Delta$S_h < 0, $\Delta$S_c > 0, $\Delta$S_total > 0 C)$\Delta$S_h < 0, $\Delta$S_c > 0, $\Delta$S_total < 0 D)$\Delta$S_h > 0, $\Delta$S_c < 0, $\Delta$S_total > 0 E) $\Delta$S_h > 0, $\Delta$S_c < 0, $\Delta$S_total < 0

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The entropy of the hot object decreases as it loses heat (energy), while the entropy of the cold object increases as it gains heat. The total entropy of the system increases due to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.

A Hot Object and a Cold Object Are Placed in Thermal