Question

Consider a potato being baked in an oven that is maintained at a constant temperature. the temperature of the potato is observed to rise by 5c during the first minute. Will the temperature rise during the second minute be less than, equal to, or more than 5∘C? Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

The rise in temperature will be less than 5 °C in the second minute.

Explanation:

According to heat conduction law, the rate of heating is proportional to the temperature difference or temperature gradient. The temperature gradient is what drives heat to move from a hotter body at a higher temperature gradient to a colder body at a lower temperature gradient. For the potato, the initial first minute raises the temperature to 5 °C, consequently reducing the temperature gradient between the potato and the heating element in the oven. This reduced temperature gradient means that the rate at which it will conduct heat in the second minute will be lesser than that at the first minute. This will continue till the potato and the heating element are at the same temperature, at which no temperature gradient will exist between them; stopping heat transfer between them.