IGCSE Topic 2 ​ Thermal Physics

Booklet 2A​
Thermal Physics
P2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter
P2.1.1 States of matter
1 State the distinguishing properties of solids, liquids and gases
2 Know the terms for the changes in state between solids, liquids and gases
(gas to solid and solid to gas changes are not required)

P2.1.2 Particle model

1 Describe the structure of solids, liquids and gases in terms of the arrangement, separation and motion
of the particles and represent these states using simple particle diagrams
2 Describe the relationship between the motion of particles and temperature
3 Know that the random motion of particles (e.g. smoke particles or pollen grains, that can be viewed
with a light microscope) in a suspension is evidence for the kinetic particle model of matter
4 Know that the forces and distances between particles and the motion of the particles affect the
properties of solids, liquids and gases
5 Describe and explain this motion (sometimes known as Brownian motion) in terms of random collisions
between particles in the suspension and the much smaller, fast moving particles of the gas or liquid
6 Describe the pressure of a gas in terms of the forces exerted by particles colliding with surfaces,
creating a force per unit area

P2.1.3 Pressure changes

1 Describe qualitatively, in terms of particles, the effect on the pressure of a fixed mass of gas of:
(a). a change of temperature at constant volume
(b). a change of volume at constant temperature

P2.2 Thermal properties and temperature

P2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases
1 Describe, qualitatively, the thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases at constant pressure
2 Explain some of the everyday applications and consequences of thermal expansion

P2.2.2 Melting, boiling and evaporation

1 Know the melting and boiling temperatures for water at standard atmospheric pressure
(limited to Celsius only)
2 Describe condensation and solidification (freezing) in terms of particles
3 Describe evaporation in terms of the escape of the more energetic particles from the surface of a liquid
4 Know that evaporation causes cooling of a liquid
5 Describe melting and boiling in terms of energy input without a change in temperature
6 Describe the differences between boiling and evaporation
7 Describe how temperature, surface area and air movement over a surface affect evaporation
P2.3 Transfer of thermal energy
P2.3.1 Conduction
1 Identify and give examples of typical good thermal conductors and bad thermal conductors (thermal
insulators)
2 Describe thermal conduction in solids in terms of atomic or molecular lattice vibrations and also in
terms of the movement of delocalised (mobile) electrons in metallic conductors

P2.3.2 Convection
1 Know that convection is an important method of energy transfer in liquids and gases
2 Describe convection in liquids and gases
3 Explain convection in liquid and gases in terms of density changes

P2.3.3 Radiation
1 Know that thermal energy transfer by thermal radiation does not require a medium and is mainly due to
infrared radiation
3 Know that the temperature of the Earth is affected by the radiation absorbed by the Earth and the
radiation emitted by the Earth
2 Describe the effect of surface colour (black or white) and texture (dull or shiny) on the emission,
absorption and reflection of thermal radiation
4 Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad emitters of thermal radiation
5 Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad absorbers of thermal radiation

P2.3.4 Consequences of thermal energy transfer

1 Identify and explain some of the basic everyday applications and consequences of conduction,
convection and radiation
Particles

You have been told that everything is made of particles… is this true?

What evidence is there that these ‘particles’ really exist?

1) Brownian Motion​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 2) Kinetic Theory
******** Moves with ______ motion due to​ ​
________ with _____ __________
_________ ___________of *******.
The ******* can be seen by a _______
___________ but the ***** cannot

​ ​
smaller, fast moving particles, random, collisions, light microscope,
phases/states,

The Kinetic theory of matter​ https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/states-of-matter-basics/latest/states-of-matter-basics_en.html

Postulates:​ ​ ​ Matter is made of moving particles

​ ​ ​ ​ Hotter particles move more rapidly (as more KE)
​ ​ ​ ​ There are forces (bonds) between particles

The ‘state’ of matter is due to the ​ f__________between​ the particles

s__________of
m_________of

​ ​ ​ ​ Solid​ ​ ​ ​ Liquid ​​ ​ ​ Gas

Diagram:​

Forces:

Separation:
(Distances)

Movement:
Heat and phase changes
To turn a solid → liquid or a liquid → gas you need to heat the material.

Heating a material adds t__________ e________ and (usually) increases its t____________

If we h____ a material at a constant rate we can produce a heating curve.

We often use Q as the symbol for heat e________ (H is used for something different).

The heating curve shows what phases (states) a material can be in.​

condensing,

solid,

melting,

gas,

evaporation,

liquid,

boiling point,

melting point

solidifying

Boiling vs Evaporation

Boiling

Evaporation

Evaporative cooling:
Latent heat

On parts 2 and 4 of the heating curve the line is flat and t____________ is constant.
Here the substance is changing phase (state) and it is made of both phases.
The t__________ stays the same, so where is the energy going?
Energy goes to increasing the s_______ between p_______ (not increasing the _______ ______ [ KE] )

Explain the following

1. When we put ice into our drinks they stay at about 0 oC for a long time.

2. Humans sweat to cool down.

3. Steam burns are much worse than hot water.

4. Water can be used to put out fires

5. The glaciers (used to) remain frozen even through summer with air temperatures over 10oC.

6. Steam is used by baristas to heat water to make coffee.

7. Sketch a heating curve for a material with a very large latent heat of fusion and small latent heat of
vaporization.
Gas Pressure​​ ​ ​ https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/gas-properties

Particles h_____ the s_______ of the container.

They transfer m_________ and exert a f________ which causes P_____________.

Thermal expansion
Gas

If the temperature increases the k______ E______ of the particles increases and they move f________
hitting the sides of the container h__________ and m______ o_________ exerting g________ pressure.
The excess pressure inside the container creates an u_________ force which pushes the sides away
causing and i___________ in V__________ (e_________).

Liquid
Liquids also expand when h________ as the increase in v____________ causes the particles
to c_________ and increases the s_________.
This is useful in t_______________ where a scale can be calibrated using the m_______ and
b________ points of w___________. Can cause problems in c_________ h________ etc

Solid
Expansion of solids can be dangerous for r____ t_______ and b__________.
It can the used for bimetallic strips which work by joining t_____ different m_______
These are used for t_________m______ and t_________st______
They are also used in c__________ b___________ which turn off electricity when too much c________
f___ causing h_________.
Transferring Energy by Heating

We know an object can be warmed up by heating it.

When we heat an object what are we doing?

Increasing Temperature
Increasing m______ of particles → the particles k_______ e_________ → the internal e_______
By heating we are putting in e_________ i.e. Heat is a type of Energy Transfer
We cannot see heat, only its effects (how much the t___________ of an object increases)

There are three methods of energy (heat) transfer:​ cond______, c__v_______ and r_________.

Conduction ​ ​ ​ ​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9joLYfayee8

When atoms are hot they move f________.

Col_________ transfer energy from the hot p_________ to cold ones.
M_______ are good conductors due to their sea of free e________.
L_________ and G_______ are generally p____ conductors.

Convection​ ​ ​ ​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGIiOTuAIs

What happens to the volume of an object as you heat it?

Hotter materials will e___________ and become l____ dense .
So in a fluid (substance that can f____ ) the hotter areas will be l_____ dense and move u________ .
If the heat is applied low down
Cold fluid sinks
Hot fluid rises
A convection current is caused.

Radiation​ ​ ​ ​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GoZZKcNZiQ

Heat can be transferred by EM radiation (light ).

Most thermal radiation is Infra Red .

Radiated heat is absorbed and emitted

more from matte b______ ​ surfaces
​ less from shiny w_____ / silver ​ surfaces

The hotter the object the m______ heat is emitted.

Heat Transfer Questions

1)​ Explain why….

a)​ The cooling element in a fridge is usually at the top.​

​
b)​ Central heating radiators are poorly named

c)​ The element in a Kettle is at the bottom (2 reasons)

d) ​ White is a cooler colour for clothes on a sunny day

e) ​ Hot metal burns more quickly than hot wood

f) ​ Birds can often fly along roads without flapping their wings

g) ​ Feathers are good at keeping birds warm (oil is bad)

h) ​ Dogs pant in the heat hot weather

e) Survival blankets are made from metal foil

Extra Questions / Formative

1. My cooker (oven) has two heating elements, one at the bottom and one at the top.

When the cooker is set to grill (broil) only the top element comes on and the door is kept open.
​ a. Which of the three heat transfers is being used to heat the food. Explain your reasons

When the cooker is set to bake (oven) only the bottom element comes on and the door is closed.
​ b. Which of the three heat transfers is being used to heat the food. Explain your reasons

2. In a garden there is a chair painted black. The sides are made of metal, the seat is made of wood.
​
The chair gets very hot on a hot day.
a. Why does the black chair get hotter than a white chair?

When touched metal sides feel very hot (they burn your hand), but the wood does not feel so hot.
b. Why does the metal feel hotter than the wood [even though the temp is the same].

3. A toaster has a metal case inside and plastic on the outside. It uses radiation to heat the bread.

​ a. Why is the inside case made of metal?

​ b. Why is the outside made of plastic?

4. Explain how a convection current is formed

https://www.simscale.com/docs/simwiki/heat-transfer-thermal-analysis/what-is-thermal-expansion/