Which has more total energy: a cup of boiling water at 100°C or a swimming pool of slightly cooler water at 90°C?
A)The cup of boiling water at 100°C has more energy.
B)The swimming pool at 90°C has more energy.
C)They both have the same amount of energy because they are both made of water.
D)It is not possible to answer this question without knowing the ambient temperature surrounding each body of water.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The swimming pool at 90°C has more energy because it has a much larger volume of water, and thus a greater total amount of thermal energy, despite being at a slightly lower temperature than the cup of boiling water.

Which Has More Total Energy: a Cup of Boiling Water