Question

1. In terms of thermal energy, why does a bottle of soda left in the sun have a higher temperature than one left in an ice bucket? ( Explain and use scientific terminology in all of your answers).
2. Explain why wearing two or three layers of clothing helps to keep you warmer in cold weather than does one thick layer?
3. Explain why the rug on your floor feels warmer than the tile in the same room?

Answer 1

1. The bottle left in the sun is exposed to the thermal energy which causes it to heat up. Ice is cold and the bottle is in direct contact with the ice.

2. Its harder for cold winds to get through to you when theres 3 or even 4 layers of clothing on your body than one thick one.

3. Common Sense?... the rug is thick and the tile is... a tile 

Answer 2

1. First, heat can be absorbed. This is along the lines of thermodynamics, where any material has a heat capacity. This increases the molecules velocity, thus creating a higher temperature than the soda in an ice bucket. In colder environments, the molecules velocities are much slower, creating less thermal energy because there is barely any movement involved. Friction is required for thermal energy to take place.

2. The reason as to why wearing two or three layers of clothing can help you keep warmer rather than just one is because as the air travels through your clothing, each layer provides a thermal insulation that can help keep you warm. Whereas a thick layer can only divide up that amount of work compared to the two or three layers that can either specialize in what the layer does or at least cuts the work out.

3. The rugs on the floor create an insulation where it prevents the loss of heat that it has already gained. Whereas the tiles, don't have that type of heat retention due to the material it is made from. All materials are able to insulate heat somehow. However, some materials are better than others, like wool or cotton.