Answer: The room temperature is below 50°C, consistent with the slower cooling rate at lower temperature difference.
- A The room temperature is around 70°C, equal to the liquid's starting temperature in typical laboratory settings
- B The room temperature is below 50°C, consistent with the slower cooling rate at lower temperature difference
- C The specific heat capacity of the liquid changed partway through cooling under usual circumstances according to most researchers
- D The given data is inconsistent with Newton's law of cooling largely in the majority of cases studied as widely reported
Correct answer: B. The room temperature is below 50°C, consistent with the slower cooling rate at lower temperature difference
Explanation: Since the cooling slows down as the liquid temperature approaches the surroundings, the smaller temperature drop in a longer time (60 to 50 in 8 min vs 70 to 60 in 5 min) is expected behaviour consistent with Newtons law of cooling, with room temp below 50°C.
During a phase change (melting or boiling), temperature stays constant while heat is absorbed entirely as latent heat (Q=mL); temperature only rises again once the substance is fully in its new phase.
Concept context
Temperature scales, thermal expansion, calorimetry, and the three modes of heat transfer including radiation laws.