Stream dries up. Did the water in the stream: a. gain energy b. loose eergy c. keep the same amount of energy d. never had energy

Question

Explain your answer. Choose one correct answer.

Answer 1

To make sure I am understanding the question correctly: "When water evaporates, has the water gained, lost, or kept the same amount of energy?"

The answer to that would be that the water gained energy. The lake is being heated by the sun, ( it is being given heat energy) and because of this, the liquid water is changing to it's higher energy state, vapor.

It's the same thing with boiling water in a pot. The stove is providing heat energy, and the water molecules get excited and can no longer exist as liquid with the amount of energy they have, so they have to turn to vapor.

Fun fact: because steam is a higher energy form of water, steam burns tend to be more severe than boiling water burns! Pretty interesting.

I hope this helps you out,

-Heaven.

Answer 2

What a strange question?! First of all, it's not clear what form of energy:

1. there is a dam built upstream, kinetic energy is now 0, potential energy is a lot
2. it's a temporary stream, and the water has gone into some lake/ pond. Thus Kinetic energy is 0, potential energy is lower
3. it evaporated, thus we have energy of liquid vs energy of water vapor

Let's click some answer...

1. never had energy, makes no sense
2. kept the same amount of energy. No... It gave some of its energy to the surrounding things, rocks, air... Thus it can't be true.
3. Gained energy. The Sun is shining, water is warmer, thus, yes, it can gain energy. Thermal energy. Or Small Jimmy is playing in the water, making some waves, putting energy into water
4. Lost energy. Ok. It was on the higher ground, now it's in some lake, thus I would vote for this answer.

Seriously, it's a shame for teachers to ask vague questions like this this and make students feel bad for not knowing the answer.