Answer :
Final answer:
Based on an empirical approach and assuming a constant cooling rate, the water might cool to 32 degrees Celsius, but it would be more realistic to expect a higher temperature such as 40 degrees Celsius. The correct option is C.
Explanation:
The question involves the cooling of a pan of water in a refrigerator and asks to predict the temperature of the water after a certain time has passed. This scenario is described by the principles of thermodynamics, specifically heat transfer, which falls under the subject of Physics. To solve problems like these, one typically assumes a specific rate of cooling such as in Newton's Law of Cooling, but the information provided does not allow for a precise calculation. In a typical classroom setting, an empirical approach may be employed, suggesting that because the water cooled by 7 degrees in 10 minutes, it might be presumed to continue to cool by the same amount if the cooling rate is constant and linear.
This simplistic assumption leads to the prediction that the temperature would be 32 degrees Celsius after the next 10 minutes. However, as the water's temperature approaches that of the refrigerator, the cooling rate would generally slow down, making the precise next temperature subject to more variables than described in the question. Therefore, without further information on the rate of cooling or environmental conditions, the most likely answer, considering realistic cooling behavior, would be somewhere between 32 degrees Celsius and the initial 39 degrees Celsius, which would best correspond to Option C) 40 degrees Celsius assuming a decreasing rate of cooling.
