How do fast-moving particles assist in transferring thermal energy to a cup after hot tea is poured into it?

Fast-moving particles play a crucial role in the transfer of thermal energy through the process of convection. When hot tea is poured into a cup, the fast-moving particles in the hot liquid possess higher energy compared to the particles of the cup, which are relatively cooler at that moment. As the fast-moving particles collide with the slow-moving particles in the cup's material, they transfer some of their kinetic energy to these slower particles.

This transfer of energy occurs because when a faster-moving particle strikes a slower-moving particle, it can impart some of its energy, causing the slower particle to move faster. This process effectively increases the thermal energy of the cup, warming it up. Over time, the temperature of both the tea and the cup equilibrates due to these continual collisions between particles of different speeds.

Thus, the correctness of the chosen answer highlights this fundamental interaction that occurs during heat transfer, illustrating the importance of molecular movement in thermal conduction.