Comparison of internal energies: hot nail versus beaker of water

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the internal energies of a heated nail and a beaker of water. It is debated that the nail, being heated, has the highest internal energy, while water has the highest average kinetic energy due to its temperature. Participants emphasize that internal energy is influenced by factors beyond temperature, including degrees of freedom and mass. The conversation also raises questions about how changes in mass and temperature would affect energy comparisons. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurately assessing thermal energy dynamics in different substances.
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Homework Statement


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A nail is heated in a bunsen burner flame and is about to be dropped into a beaker of water at room temperature.

a) Which of the two substances (nail or water) would you expect to initially have:

i) the highest internal energy
ii) the highest average kinetic energy

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



for my answer
i) the highest internal energy (to me, it was nail)
ii) the highest average kinetic energy (to me, it was water)

I checked the answers, my logic is wrong, so I have decided to come here to ask why and the reasonsThanks everyone!
 
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i) I think nail .
iii) <W>~T because temperature of nail is higher than water.
 
Have a think about the factors that effect the internal energy. It's not just the temperature.
 
CWatters said:
Have a think about the factors that effect the internal energy. It's not just the temperature.
I think the factors that effect the internal energy are the temperature and the degrees of freedoms. Metal has 6 degrees of freedom. I don't know about the liquid.
 
The energy required to heat something up depends on three things. The Temperature change is one.

Would it make a difference if it was an ocean of water?
What would make a difference if the mass and temperature of the two objects were was the same?
 
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