Which statement best describes heat transfer between objects of different temperatures?

• A. Heat is not transferred between objects
• B. Heat transfer depends on temperature difference
• C. Heat flows from warmer to cooler objects
• D. Heat flows from cooler to warmer objects

Answer: (C)

Heat moves from the warmer object to the cooler one until both reach the same temperature. This spontaneous flow occurs because the hotter body has greater molecular energy, and energy is exchanged until thermal equilibrium is achieved. That direction—hot to cold—best describes how heat behaves in everyday situations.

The other statements miss or misstate important points: heat does transfer between objects with different temperatures, so saying it isn’t transferred is incorrect. While the rate of heat transfer does depend on the temperature difference, that doesn’t specify which way the energy actually flows. Saying heat flows from cooler to warmer is the reverse of what happens spontaneously.