We are able to sip hot tea or milk faster from a saucer rather than a cup because the saucer provides a larger surface area for the liquid. The increased surface area leads to a faster rate of evaporation. Evaporation cools the liquid by taking latent heat away from it, so tea or milk in a saucer cools quicker than in a cup, allowing it to be sipped sooner without burning the mouth.

Explanation

• The surface area of the liquid exposed to air is greater in a saucer than in a cup.
• A larger surface area increases the evaporation rate because more liquid molecules can escape into the air.
• Evaporation is a cooling process since it requires heat energy to convert liquid into vapor.
• Due to faster evaporation in the saucer, the hot tea or milk cools more rapidly and becomes safe to sip sooner.

This is why traditionally, hot beverages are sometimes poured into saucers to cool them down faster for drinking.