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

> WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales) — 3.4 Thermal physics · Explain · 5 marks

> Two spoons, one made of metal and one made of wood, are both placed in a bowl of hot soup for 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 both spoon handles by conduction
2. Metal is a better conductor of heat than wood
3. In metals, free (delocalised) electrons transfer thermal energy quickly along the spoon
4. In wood, energy can only be transferred by vibrations of particles being passed to neighbouring particles, which is a slower process
5. More thermal energy reaches the metal spoon handle, so it feels hotter to the touch

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales)](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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