Understanding Thermal Equilibrium
Thermal equilibrium happens when two objects get to the same temperature, and heat stops moving between them. Here are some simple examples you might see in your home:
Cup of Tea: When you pour hot tea into a ceramic cup, both the cup and the tea will eventually cool down to the same temperature. This usually happens after a few minutes, and the temperature is around 70-80°C.
Refrigerator: When you put food or drinks in the refrigerator, they cool down to about 5°C. This is the usual temperature inside most fridges.
Heating a Room: When a radiator heats up a room, the air around it gets warmer. Eventually, the whole room reaches a steady temperature, which is often around 20-22°C.
Ice in Water: When you put ice into a glass of water, the ice melts. This continues until the water's temperature evens out at about 0°C.
Once thermal equilibrium is reached in these cases, heat flow stops.
Understanding Thermal Equilibrium
Thermal equilibrium happens when two objects get to the same temperature, and heat stops moving between them. Here are some simple examples you might see in your home:
Cup of Tea: When you pour hot tea into a ceramic cup, both the cup and the tea will eventually cool down to the same temperature. This usually happens after a few minutes, and the temperature is around 70-80°C.
Refrigerator: When you put food or drinks in the refrigerator, they cool down to about 5°C. This is the usual temperature inside most fridges.
Heating a Room: When a radiator heats up a room, the air around it gets warmer. Eventually, the whole room reaches a steady temperature, which is often around 20-22°C.
Ice in Water: When you put ice into a glass of water, the ice melts. This continues until the water's temperature evens out at about 0°C.
Once thermal equilibrium is reached in these cases, heat flow stops.