Which process best explains how ice cools a warm drink?

• A. The drink loses energy to the surrounding air, causing it to cool.
• B. Heat flows from the drink to the ice until thermal equilibrium is reached.
• C. The ice absorbs coldness from the drink, lowering its temperature.
• D. The ice chemically reacts with the drink, producing a cooling effect.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of heat transfer: Heat always flows from a warmer object to a cooler one until both reach the same temperature, known as thermal equilibrium.
2. Identify the temperature difference: The warm drink has a higher temperature than the ice, so heat will flow from the drink to the ice.
3. Recognize the role of ice: The ice absorbs heat from the drink, causing the ice to melt and the drink to lose thermal energy, which lowers the drink's temperature.
4. Eliminate incorrect options: The drink does not primarily lose energy to the surrounding air in this context; the ice does not absorb 'coldness' (cold is not a substance); and no chemical reaction occurs between ice and the drink to cause cooling.
5. Conclude that the best explanation is that heat flows from the drink to the ice until both reach thermal equilibrium, which explains how the ice cools the warm drink.