Question

Consider a block of red-hot steel placed on top of a steel anvil.

1. By which mechanisms does the block of steel lose thermal energy to its environment? List all of them. [2 Marks]

2. How does your answer to part a) change if the block of steel is on its own in space (far away from any star)? [1 Mark]

3. Suppose the block of steel, still isolated in space, no longer glows red. Is it still losing thermal energy? Explain. [2 Marks]

Answer 1

1)the block will loose thermal energy to the enviromnent by radiation heat loss and conduction heat loss. It will loose energy to the steel envil by conduction heat loss, which will later get into environment by radiation or transfer of heat to the ground.

2)The heat loss will occur only through radiation in this case.

3)No it will not loose thermal energy.

I am assuming that an insolated space means vacuum . As its not red hot anymore and in vacuum there are no molecules to carry heat forward. it will not loose heat.