时差N小时 冰镇饮料由何而来?(上)

Here’s something we tend to take for granted: drop a few ice cubes into a glass of water at room temperature, and in a few minutes the water will cool.

这是我们习以为常的事情：在室温状态下将冰块放入水中，几分钟后水会变凉。

How does this work?

这是什么原理呢？

Heat is a measure of molecular¹ activity: the faster a thing’s molecules² move, the more heat that substance contains.

热量是分子活动的指标：分子移动的速度越快，物体所含的热量越多。

And because everything is made of molecules, and molecules are in constant motion, everything contains at least some heat.

由于所有物质都是由分子组成，而分子一直在活动，因此每个物体或多或少都包含一些热量。

As we know, ice is colder than room temperature water.

众所周知，冰的温度低于室温状态下的水。

Because ice molecules move slowly and cluster tightly together, they produce a relatively³ low amount of heat.

由于冰分子移动缓慢且聚集得十分紧密，因此它们产生的热量相对较少。

When ice is placed in a glass of water whose molecules are moving at a greater rate, the ice begins to absorb energy,

如果将冰块放入一杯分子移动较快的水中，冰块会开始吸收热量，

because heat always travels from regions of relative warmth to colder areas in order to equalize temperatures.

为了使温度均衡，热量会从高温处向低温处转移。

1 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。

2 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。