Topic : Thermal Physics-1 1

4 (a) The lowest possible temperature is zero kelvin (0 K).

(i) State the name of this lowest possible temperature.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Nitrogen boils at 77 K.

Calculate the boiling point of nitrogen on the Celsius scale.

boiling point = .................................................... °C [2]

(b) The temperature of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume changes from 300 K to 400 K.

State and explain, in terms of particles, the effect on the pressure of the gas.

statement ..................................................................................................................................

explanation ...............................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[4]

(c) A sample of gas is at a pressure of 120 kPa. The volume of the gas is doubled at constant
temperature.

Calculate the new pressure of the gas.

pressure = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 9]

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4 Fig. 4.1 shows a bottle part-filled with water. The air inside the bottle is at the same pressure as
the air outside the bottle. The bottle and its contents are at room temperature.

bottle
air

water

Fig. 4.1

(a) The temperature of the bottle and its contents are increased.

(i) Explain, in terms of particles, how the air pressure inside the bottle changes as the
temperature increases.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) The lid is removed from the bottle.

State and explain how the air pressure inside the bottle changes.

statement ..........................................................................................................................

explanation ........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

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(b) The mass of water in the bottle is 0.18 kg. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the thermal energy needed to increase the temperature of the water by 20 °C.

thermal energy = ......................................................... [2]

(c) Another plastic bottle is filled to the top with water. The height of the bottle is 40.0 cm. The
density of water is 1.0 × 103 kg / m3.

Calculate the pressure difference between the top and bottom of the water.

pressure difference = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 9]

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2 A copper cooking pan contains water. Fig. 2.1 shows the pan on a hotplate of a cooker.

Fig. 2.1

Copper is a metal.

(a) Thermal energy is conducted through all solids by lattice vibrations.

Describe one other way in which thermal energy is conducted through the copper.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) The outside surface of the cooking pan is kept clean by regular polishing.

Explain one other advantage of keeping the surface of the pan shiny.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) The thermal energy passes into the water through the base of the pan.

Identify the main method by which thermal energy is transferred throughout the water.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 6]

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5 (a) Three identical dishes, A, B and C, contain an equal volume of water.

Dish A is outside in sunlight and experiences no wind during the day. Dish B is outside in
sunlight and experiences a strong wind during the day. Dish C is in a dark room.

Water evaporates from each dish. After 12 hours, a student measures the volume of water
in each dish. Dish C contains the largest volume of water and dish B contains the smallest
volume of water.

Explain, in terms of particles, why the three dishes have different volumes of water.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

(b) Define specific latent heat of vaporisation.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

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(c) Fig. 5.1 shows an insulating beaker, crushed ice, an immersion heater and a thermometer.

thermometer to the
power supply

insulating
beaker immersion heater

crushed ice

Fig. 5.1

The initial temperature of the ice is –60 °C.

The immersion heater is switched on and the temperature is recorded at equal intervals of
time.
Fig. 5.2 shows the temperature–time graph.

D
temperature

time

Fig. 5.2

Describe what occurs in each of the sections A, B, C and D.

A ...............................................................................................................................................

B ...............................................................................................................................................

C ...............................................................................................................................................

D ...............................................................................................................................................
[3]

[Total: 9]

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4 (a) Explain, in terms of the momentum of particles, how a gas exerts a pressure.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) The temperature of a sample of gas is increased at constant volume.

State and explain any change in the pressure of the gas.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) Another sample of gas is in a sealed container of volume 170 cm3 and exerts a pressure of
9.0 × 104 Pa. The volume of the container decreases by 70 cm3 at constant temperature.

Calculate the new pressure of the gas.

pressure = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 8]

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5 Fig. 5.1 shows an aluminium block after leaving a furnace in a factory.

furnace

aluminium block

factory worker

solid metal rollers

Fig. 5.1

(a) The mass of the block is 1200 kg and it is heated in the furnace from 20 °C to 380 °C. The
aluminium block does not melt.
The specific heat capacity of aluminium is 960 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the thermal energy gained by the block in the furnace.

thermal energy = ......................................................... [3]

(b) Fig. 5.1 shows a factory worker standing 3 m from the block.

State and explain the main process by which thermal energy is transferred to the worker.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

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(c) State and explain the main process by which thermal energy is transferred from the outer
surface of the solid metal rollers to their interior.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 9]

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4 A quantity of gas is trapped by a piston in a cylinder with thin metal walls. The piston is free to
move without friction within the cylinder.

Fig. 4.1 shows the cylinder and piston.

gas

cylinder

piston

Fig. 4.1

The cylinder is placed inside a freezer.

(a) The air in the freezer is at atmospheric pressure, which is 1.0 × 105 Pa. The area of the piston
in contact with the air in the freezer is 2.4 × 10–3 m2.

(i) Calculate the force exerted on the piston by the air in the freezer.

force = ......................................................... [2]

(ii) When the cylinder is first placed into the freezer, the temperature of the gas in the
cylinder decreases and the air pushes the piston into the cylinder.

Calculate the work done on the piston by the air in the freezer as the air pushes the
piston a distance of 0.021 m into the cylinder.

work done = ......................................................... [2]

(b) The initial temperature of the cylinder and the gas is 21 °C and, in the freezer, the temperature
of the cylinder decreases to –18 °C.

The thermal capacity of the cylinder is 89 J / °C.

Calculate the change in the internal energy of the cylinder.

change in internal energy = ......................................................... [2]

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(c) When the temperature reaches –18 °C, the pressure of the gas in the cylinder is still equal to
that of the atmosphere.

Explain, in terms of the particles of the gas, how the pressure remains equal to its original
value.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(d) As the temperature of the metal cylinder decreases, the volume of the metal decreases. The
decrease in the volume of the metal is much less than the decrease in the volume of the gas.

Explain, in terms of the particles of the metal, why the decrease in the volume of the metal is
less than that of the gas.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 11]

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4 Explain what happens to the pressure of a constant volume of air when the temperature of the air
increases. Use ideas of momentum of molecules in your explanation.

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................... [4]

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5 (a) An aluminium saucepan and a steel saucepan have the same dimensions. Table 5.1 shows
the values of the specific heat capacity and the density of aluminium and of steel.

Table 5.1

specific heat capacity density

metal
J / (kg °C) kg / m3
aluminium 0.91 2600

steel 0.50 7600

The mass of the aluminium saucepan is 0.41 kg.

(i) Calculate the mass of the steel saucepan.

mass = ......................................................... [2]

(ii) Calculate the thermal capacity of the aluminium saucepan.

thermal capacity = ......................................................... [2]

(iii) Water is heated in the steel saucepan. The initial temperature of the water and the
saucepan is 20 °C.

Calculate the energy transfer needed to raise the temperature of the steel saucepan to
100 °C.

energy = ......................................................... [2]

(b) Explain why metals are better thermal conductors than non-metals.

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 8]

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(c) The weight of an object is 4.0 N on a planet where the acceleration of free fall is 8.7 m / s2.

Calculate the mass of the object.

mass = ........................................................ [2]

[Total: 8]

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3 Fig. 3.1 shows a balloon inflated with air.

Fig. 3.1

The pressure of the air at the inner surface of the balloon keeps the rubber stretched.

(a) Explain, in terms of the momentum of the molecules, why there is a pressure at the inner
surface of the balloon.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) The volume of the air in the balloon is 630 cm3 and the pressure of the air in the balloon is
1.0 × 105 Pa.

The balloon is tied to a heavy stone and dropped into a lake. The balloon is pulled down
quickly and the temperature of the air inside does not change.

(i) Calculate the volume of the air when the pressure of the air is 1.4 × 105 Pa.

volume = .......................................................... [2]

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(ii) The balloon and stone stop moving when the stone hits the bottom of the lake. The
temperature of the air now begins to decrease.

Explain why the volume of the air in the balloon decreases as the temperature decreases.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 7]

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4 In Fig. 4.1, the circles represent molecules in different states of matter.

A B C

Fig. 4.1

(a) Identify the states A, B and C.

A ………………………………………………………..

B ………………………………………………………..

C ………………………………………………………..
[2]

(b) Explain, in terms of forces between molecules, why gases expand more than liquids when
they have the same rise in temperature. Assume that the pressure remains constant.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) Fig. 4.2 shows a cylinder and piston.

cylinder

piston

gas

Fig. 4.2

The volume of gas in the cylinder is 3400 cm3. The pressure of the gas in the cylinder is
0.90 × 105 Pa.

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(i) The piston is moved to the left and fixed in a new position. The pressure of the gas in
the cylinder increases to 2.5 × 105 Pa. Assume that the temperature of the gas does not
change.

Calculate the new volume of the gas.

volume = .......................................................... [3]

(ii) The gas in the cylinder is now heated. The piston remains fixed in the same position as
in (c)(i).

State and explain, in terms of molecules, any change in the pressure of the gas.

statement ..........................................................................................................................

explanation ........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]

[Total: 10]

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5 Fig. 5.1 shows two metal plates A and B with a radiant heater placed midway between them.

shiny plate dull black plate

wax wax

cork cork

A B
radiant heater

Fig. 5.1

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.

(a) State and explain what happens to the pieces of cork a few minutes after the heater is
switched on.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

(b) Give the name of the method of transfer of thermal energy in solid metals.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 5]

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5 (a) (i) Define specific latent heat.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain the melting of a solid in terms of molecules and energy.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) An electrical heater is used to heat a liquid to its boiling point. Fig. 5.1 shows the apparatus.

connecting
liquid
wires

heater element container

balance 3800 g

Fig. 5.1

When the liquid is boiling, the heater supplies 1.26 MJ of thermal energy. The mass reading
shown on the balance decreases from 3800 g to 2300 g.

Calculate the specific latent heat of vaporisation of the liquid.

specific latent heat = ......................................................... [3]

(c) State and explain a precaution to improve the accuracy of the value of specific latent heat
calculated in (b).

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 9]
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4 A large test-tube contains a liquid at room temperature. An electric heater is immersed in the liquid
and is switched on. Thermal energy is supplied to the liquid by the heater. The temperature of the
liquid increases until it reaches its boiling point. The liquid then starts to change into gas.

(a) Describe, in terms of molecules and their motion, how a liquid differs from a gas.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) Describe what happens to molecules of the liquid as its temperature begins to increase.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) (i) Explain, in terms of molecules, why a supply of thermal energy is needed to change the
liquid into a gas.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The density of the liquid in the test-tube is 0.86 g / cm3. The volume of liquid in the test-
tube is 50 cm3.

The liquid reaches its boiling point. It now absorbs 18 000 J of thermal energy and all of
the liquid changes into a gas.

Calculate the specific latent heat of vaporisation of this liquid.

specific latent heat = ......................................................... [3]

[Total: 9]

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5 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.

(a) The outside surface of the container gets hot. Some thermal energy passes through the metal
because vibrating atoms in the metal collide with neighbouring atoms and transfer energy to
them.

Explain how the rest of the thermal energy is conducted through the metal container to the
outside surface by another process.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) 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.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(c) 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.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 7]

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4 Solids have a fixed shape. Liquids adapt to the shape of their container. Gases fill their container.

Explain in terms of forces between molecules and arrangement of molecules, why solids, liquids
and gases have these properties.

Solids ...............................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

Liquids ..............................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

Gases ...............................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................
[6]

[Total: 6]

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5 An electric kettle contains water at a temperature of 19 °C. The kettle has a power rating of 3.0 kW
and is switched on for 3.5 minutes.

(a) Calculate the energy supplied to the kettle by the electricity supply.

electrical energy = ........................................................ [3]

(b) At 3.5 minutes, the temperature of the water reaches 100 °C. The volume of the water in
the kettle is 1700 cm3 and its density is 1.0 g / cm3. The specific heat capacity of water is
4200 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the thermal energy gained by the water.

thermal energy = ........................................................ [5]

(c) Calculate the efficiency of the kettle.

efficiency = ........................................................ [2]

[Total: 10]

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3 Fig. 3.1 shows a gas contained in a cylinder enclosed by a piston.

pressure gauge
piston

cylinder

gas

Fig. 3.1

(a) Describe, in terms of momentum of the molecules, how a pressure is exerted on the walls of
the cylinder.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) The piston is pushed into the cylinder. The volume decreases from 820 cm3 to 330 cm3 . The
pressure gauge measures the pressure after compression as 20 000 Pa. The temperature
remains constant.

Calculate the value of the pressure before the gas was compressed.

pressure = ........................................................ [3]

[Total: 6]

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4 (a) A student carries out an experiment to determine the thermal capacity of a metal block. The
block is heated by an electric heater for 23 minutes. The current in the heater is 3.0 A at a
potential difference (p.d.) of 12 V.
The temperature of the block rises from 20 °C to 70 °C.

Calculate the thermal capacity of the block.

thermal capacity = ........................................................ [4]

(b) 1. Two metal spheres of different diameters are heated to 900 °C in a hot oven. The two
spheres are removed from the oven.

State and explain any difference in the initial rates of emission of radiation of thermal energy
between the two spheres.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2. 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.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[3]

[Total: 7]

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6 Fig. 6.1 shows a shower that takes in cold water. The water passes through an electric water
heater and emerges from the showerhead at a higher temperature.

showerhead

electric
water heater

Fig. 6.1

The power of the heater is 9000 W.

(a) The shower is powered by a 230 V electricity supply.

(i) Calculate the current in the heater when it is switched on.

current = ........................................................ [2]

(ii) Suggest a suitable rating for the fuse in the heater circuit.

fuse rating = ........................................................ [1]

(b) The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). The initial temperature of the cold water
is 16 °C.

Determine the maximum mass of water that can be heated to a temperature of 35 °C in 1.0 s.

mass = ........................................................ [4]

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5 (a) A student is supplied with a small block of iron, a thermometer and an electrical heater of
power P.

There are two holes drilled in the iron block. The heater fits tightly into one hole and the
student places the thermometer into the other hole.

Fig. 5.1 shows the equipment.

cable
thermometer

heater

iron block

Fig. 5.1

The student uses this equipment when determining the specific heat capacity of iron.

State:

• the other equipment the student will need

• the measurements the student needs to take
• the equation used when calculating the value of the specific heat capacity of iron.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[4]

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(b) In the student’s home there is a wood-burning stove, which is also made of iron. The mass of
the wood-burning stove is 85 kg.

(i) State what is meant by the thermal capacity of an object.

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(ii) The specific heat capacity of iron is 460 J / (kg °C).

Calculate the thermal capacity of the wood-burning stove.

thermal capacity = ...........................................................[2]

[Total: 7]

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4 Fig. 4.1 shows apparatus used by a student to measure the specific heat capacity of iron.

thermometer

electric heater

iron block

Fig. 4.1

(a) The student improves the accuracy of the experiment by placing material around the block,
as shown in Fig. 4.2.

material

Fig. 4.2

(i) Suggest the name of a possible material the student could use and explain how it
improves the accuracy of the experiment.

suggestion .........................................................................................................................

explanation ........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]

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(ii) State how the student could further improve the accuracy of the experiment by using
more of the material used in Fig. 4.2.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) The current in the heater is 3.8 A and the potential difference (p.d.) across it is 12 V. The iron
block has a mass of 2.0 kg. When the heater is switched on for 10 minutes, the temperature
of the block rises from 25 °C to 55 °C.

Calculate the specific heat capacity of iron.

specific heat capacity = ...........................................................[4]

[Total: 8]

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6 (a) State three factors that determine the rate of evaporation of water.

1. ...............................................................................................................................................

2. ...............................................................................................................................................

3. ...............................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) A person climbs out of a swimming pool and stands in the open air.

Explain why evaporation of water from the surface of the person’s body causes the person to
feel cold.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

[Total: 5]

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