Temperature and thermal physics — AS & A Level Physics (9702) questions by topic
Temperature and thermal physics questions define specific heat capacity and specific latent heat, describe internal energy, and give the numerical value and unit for absolute zero on the thermodynamic scale, marked from 7 to 13 marks in this A Level Physics set.
State, explain and calculate lead the command words, with suggest and deduce also frequent: explain net thermal transfer between two objects, not just describe one direction. 17 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers are gathered here. Submitting each attempt for instant marking flags a missing word 'net' in a heat-transfer explanation, or energy confused with the transfers that change it, immediately rather than repeatedly.
What examiners look for
- Examiners repeatedly find candidates omit the word 'net' when describing thermal transfer between two objects at different temperatures, missing the idea of a resultant flow.
- A common mistake is stating density and temperature are proportional for mercury, which is incorrect.
- Reports flag candidates who include a beaker's heating incorrectly, assuming energy gained by the beaker equals energy gained by the water.
- A recurring criticism is confusing energy possessed by a system with the transfers, such as thermal energy and work, that change it.
- Only a minority give a fully correct statement with directions of transfer clearly and consistently stated for all three quantities involved.
May–June 2025, Paper 41
May–June 2025, Paper 42
May–June 2025, Paper 43
State what is meant by the internal energy of a system.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 44
State what is meant by two objects being in thermal equilibrium.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
State the magnitude and unit of absolute zero on the thermodynamic temperature scale.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
State what is meant by the internal energy of a system.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
State the magnitude and unit of absolute zero on the thermodynamic temperature scale.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
October–November 2024, Paper 42
October–November 2024, Paper 43
May–June 2023, Paper 41
State the reason why two objects that are at the same temperature are described as being in thermal equilibrium.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
State the first law of thermodynamics. Identify the meaning of any symbols that you use.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
State the reason why two objects that are at the same temperature are described as being in thermal equilibrium.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
October–November 2023, Paper 42
State what is meant by the internal energy of a system.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Other AS & A Level Physics topics
- Forces, density and pressure (120)
- Waves (89)
- Practical skills (86)
- Superposition (77)
- D.C. circuits (71)
- Work, energy and power (70)
- Deformation of solids (60)
- Physical quantities and units (54)
- Current of electricity (50)
- Particle physics (46)
- Kinematics (45)
- Nuclear physics (37)