When a piece of copper metal at 100ºC was placed into a cup of water at 25ºC, the final temperature of both substances reached 30ºC within a minute. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the transfer of energy between the two substances? a. Copper lost less energy than the amount of energy gained by water
b. Copper gained the same amount of energy that was lost by water
c. Copper lost the same amount of energy that was gained by water

it can be observed without changing the identity of the object.

it depends on what substance you're talking about as well as many other factors. in quantum mechanics, the observation of particles affects the observers ability to measure certain properties. for example: you can know the velocity of a particle, but you can't know it's position; or you can know it's position, but not it's velocity. it's like trying to find out where a grain of sand is by throwing other grains of sand at it. once you find out where it is, it's been moved. it's also like trying to find an answer to the question of whether or not a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if nobody is there to hear it. paradoxically, the only way to find out is to be there and hear it.