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1 Some surfaces are better at emitting radiation than others.
(a) Describe an experiment to show whether a black surface or a white surface is the better emitter
of radiation. You may draw a diagram.
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(b) To ensure that the conclusion reached in the experiment in (a) is correct, several details of
the experiment must be identical when testing the two different surfaces.
State two quantities in the experiment that you described that must be identical during the
test.
1. .......................................................................................................................................
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2. .......................................................................................................................................
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[Total: 5]
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2 The diagram shows a cross-section of a flask. The flask is used to keep a liquid hot. The flask has
two glass walls with a vacuum between them. The surfaces of the glass walls are shiny.
plastic cap
double-walled
glass container
hot liquid
vacuum
shiny surfaces
Explain how the shiny surfaces reduce the transfer of thermal energy from the hot liquid.
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[Total: 2]
3
3 An engineer makes a device that absorbs thermal energy from the Sun. The absorbed energy heats
water.
In the device, cold water flows slowly from an upper tank, through a white plastic pipe, to a lower
tank. Energy from the Sun heats the water as it flows, as shown in the diagram.
upper
tank cold water
Sun
white plastic
pipe
lower
tank warm water
The engineer wants to increase the thermal energy absorbed by the water in the pipe.
Suggest two improvements he can make to increase the thermal energy absorbed.
In each case, explain why the suggestion increases the thermal energy absorbed.
improvement 1 .........................................................................................................................
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explanation ...............................................................................................................................
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improvement 2 .........................................................................................................................
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explanation ...............................................................................................................................
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[Total: 4]
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4 The diagram shows a road next to the sea.
On a sunny day, the Sun warms the road.
Describe how energy from the Sun reaches the Earth and warms the road.
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[Total: 3]
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5 The diagram shows a road next to the sea on a sunny day.
The temperature of the road is greater than the temperature of the sea.
The surface of the road is black.
Suggest one reason why the temperature of the road is greater than that of the sea.
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[Total: 1]
6 A student places equal masses of water into two metal cans. The cans are identical apart from one
having a white outer surface and the other having a black outer surface.
The student places the two cans in direct sunlight. The temperature of the water increases in both
cans. After 10 minutes, the temperature increase is greater in one of the cans.
State and explain which can has the greater increase in temperature.
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[Total: 2]
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7 A metal container is used to cook food. The metal container has thick walls.
The metal container is spherical. The spherical container has a smaller surface area than a long,
thin container of the same volume.
Explain the advantage of using a spherical container.
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[Total: 1]
8 The diagram shows two metal plates A and B with a radiant heater placed midway between them.
Metal plate A is shiny. Metal plate B is dull black. A piece of cork is attached to each plate using
wax. The wax is a solid at room temperature and has a melting point of 37 °C.
State and explain what happens to the pieces of cork a few minutes after the heater is switched
on.
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[Total: 4]
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9 A metal container is used to cook food. The metal container has thick walls. Hot cooking oil at a
temperature of 120 °C is poured into the container.
The outside surface of the container is brightly polished and shiny.
Explain how this reduces the power that needs to be supplied to keep the oil at the correct
temperature.
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[Total: 3]
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10 A student is testing how different surfaces absorb radiant heat.
The student puts two metal plates in holders and places them on either side of a radiant heater as
shown in the diagram. One plate has a shiny metal side facing towards the heater and the other
plate has a dull black side facing towards the heater.
A metal disc is attached to each plate using wax.
(a) The student turns on the radiant heater and starts a stop-clock. The wax on the plate with a
dull black side melts and the metal disc falls off the plate 53 seconds after the stop-clock is
started.
The metal disc on the plate with a shiny metal side remains attached for another 32 seconds
after the metal disc on the first plate falls.
Explain why the metal disc on the plate with a dull black side falls before the metal disc on the
plate with a shiny metal side.
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(b) Another student observes the experiment shown in the diagram and says that the comparison
of the two plates is not fair.
Suggest why the experiment is not fair.
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[Total: 4]
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11 The diagram shows a hot liquid in a vacuum flask. The vacuum flask keeps the temperature of the
liquid in the flask constant for a long time.
Describe how the shiny silver surface helps to keep the liquid hot for longer.
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[Total: 2]
12 The diagram shows a car on a sunny day in a hot country.
The object labelled A is placed inside the windscreen. It is used by the owner of the car to reduce
the temperature rise of the air in the car.
Ring the most suitable material for the outer surface of object A. Explain your choice.
dull black dull white shiny black shiny white
explanation ...............................................................................................................................
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[Total: 2]
10
13 Two metal spheres of different diameters are heated to 900 °C in a hot oven. The two spheres are
removed from the oven.
(a) State and explain any difference in the initial rates of emission of radiation of thermal energy
between the two spheres.
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(b) One hot sphere is now heated in a hotter oven.
State and explain any effect on the rate of emission of radiation of thermal energy from that
sphere when it is removed from the hotter oven.
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[Total: 3]
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14 A student wants to investigate good and bad absorbers of thermal radiation. She has the apparatus
shown in the diagram, a supply of cold water and a metre rule.
Explain how the student could use the apparatus she has available to carry out her investigation.
Describe the results she would expect to obtain. Draw a diagram of the set-up.
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[Total: 4]
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15 A student carries out an experiment to determine which surface is the better emitter of thermal
energy. She uses two similar metal containers. One of the containers has a dull black surface. The
other has a shiny white surface. The diagram shows the metal containers on a bench.
(a) Suggest a procedure for her experiment. You may add to the diagram to assist with your
explanation.
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(b) Predict the result of the experiment described in (a).
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[Total: 4]
16 Use a word from the box to complete the sentence.
conduction expansion insulation radiation
Thermal energy travels at the speed of light by .......................................................... . [1]
[Total: 1]
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17 A student investigates the thermal energy lost from two metal cans, X and Y. The cans are identical
apart from their outside colour.
The student pours the same volume of hot water into each can and seals each can. The student
records the temperature of the water in each can at regular time intervals for a period of 35 minutes.
The equipment is shown in the diagram.
The results of the investigation are shown in the graph.
(a) For can X, use the graph to determine the drop in temperature of the water
(i) in the first five minutes
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(ii) in the last five minutes.
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(b) Explain why the water cools at a greater rate during the first five minutes of the experiment,
compared with the last five minutes.
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(c) The outside of one can is dull black and the outside of the other is shiny white.
State the colour of can Y. ..................................................................................................
Explain your answer. ........................................................................................................
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[Total: 6]
18 Explain why houses in hot countries are often painted white.
Use ideas about the transfer of thermal energy in your answer.
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[Total: 3]
