# Explain why a metal spoon left in a hot bowl of soup feels hotter to touch than a wooden spoon left in the same bowl of soup for the same amount of time.

> Eduqas A-Level Physics — 3.4 Thermal physics · Explain · 5 marks

> A metal spoon and a wooden spoon are both placed in a bowl of hot soup. After several minutes, a person picks up each spoon by its handle.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Heat energy is transferred from the hot soup to the spoon by conduction
2. Metal is a good conductor (of heat / thermal energy)
3. Wood is a poor conductor / thermal insulator
4. More thermal energy is conducted along the metal spoon to the handle (compared to the wooden spoon)
5. So the metal spoon handle reaches a higher temperature, feeling hotter to touch

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Physics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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