Which statement correctly describes how thermal energy tends to spontaneously flow? a. from high temperature to low temperature b. from low temperature to high temperature c. with a decrease in kinetic energy d. with an increase in potential energy e. from cold to hot objects

Option (A) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

The second law of thermodynamics states that heat flows from hot body to a cold body.

A body becomes hot when we heat it at high temperature. Hence, a hotter body will have more collisions between its molecules and thus, there will be maximum kinetic energy between its molecules. Therefore, when this heat moves to a colder body then the molecules of colder body tend to gain some kinetic energy.

And this transfer of heat continues unless and until the temperature of both bodies become equal.

Thus, we can conclude that the statement from high temperature to low temperature correctly describes how thermal energy tends to spontaneously flow.