Thermal physics — IGCSE Physics (0625) questions by topic

Two different pure substances, X and Y, are heated. Both substance X and substance Y are initially in the solid state. The graph shows how the temperature of each substance…

A liquid substance changes into a gas. Which property of the substance remains the same? A ability to flow B compressibility C shape D volume

At room temperature, iron is difficult to compress. At the same temperature, oxygen is much easier to compress. Which comparison of the particles in iron and the particles in…

A teacher has a gas in a sealed syringe with a movable plunger. The diagram shows a syringe containing gas with a plunger that can be pulled outwards. The teacher slowly moves the…

Evaporation occurs from the surface of a pool of water. Which statement describes this change of state? A Electrons move from the liquid and become a gas. B Molecules that move…

Students test four rods of different materials, W, X, Y and Z, to compare how well the materials conduct thermal energy. The rods are all the same size and shape. The students use…

A scientist heats a solid substance until it turns into a liquid, and then into a gas. Which row describes the two changes of state of the substance as it is heated? change of…

Gases can be compressed, but liquids cannot be compressed. Which statement explains this difference? A Each particle in a gas is more compressible than each particle in a liquid.…

A fixed mass of gas at a constant temperature is trapped in a cylinder which has a movable piston. Which row states and explains what happens to the pressure of the gas in the…

Which quantity does not change when there is an increase in temperature? A the density of a steel block B the diameter of the hole in a metal nut C the length of an iron rod D the…

A person holds an empty glass beaker and pours hot water into it. Why does it take a few seconds before his hand starts to feel hot? A Glass is a poor thermal conductor. B Water…

A liquid is heated and it expands. How does this lead to the formation of a convection current? A The density of the heated liquid decreases. B The density of the heated liquid…

Some electric hotplates are metal and do not glow when hot. Other hotplates are glass and have a heater underneath that glows red. The heater makes the glass hot. With both…

A scientist heats a solid substance until it turns into a liquid, and then into a gas. Which row describes the two changes of state of the substance as it is heated? change of…

Gases can be compressed, but liquids cannot be compressed. Which statement explains this difference? A Each particle in a gas is more compressible than each particle in a liquid.…

A fixed mass of gas at a constant temperature is trapped in a cylinder which has a movable piston. Which row states and explains what happens to the pressure of the gas in the…

Which quantity does not change when there is an increase in temperature? A the density of a steel block B the diameter of the hole in a metal nut C the length of an iron rod D the…

A person holds an empty glass beaker and pours hot water into it. Why does it take a few seconds before his hand starts to feel hot? A Glass is a poor thermal conductor. B Water…

A liquid is heated and it expands. How does this lead to the formation of a convection current? A The density of the heated liquid decreases. B The density of the heated liquid…

Some electric hotplates are metal and do not glow when hot. Other hotplates are glass and have a heater underneath that glows red. The heater makes the glass hot. With both…

A hot gas and a cool liquid are at the same pressure. Which row describes the separation and the motion of the particles of a hot gas compared to those of a cool liquid? option…

The specific heat capacity of solid P is greater than that of solid Q. What does this statement mean? A Less energy is needed to raise the temperature by 1 C of unit mass of solid…

When water evaporates, what escapes from the surface of the water? A individual atoms B individual molecules C individual protons D tiny drops of water

A sealed container of gas is heated. The pressure of the gas increases. Which statement explains this increase in pressure? A The forces of the gas particles striking the walls of…

A student has a copper rod and a wooden rod. Both rods have the same dimensions. The student puts one end of each rod into a beaker of crushed ice. After a few minutes, the…

A sample of a substance has a shape that is determined by its container. What are the possible states of this sample? A gas, liquid and solid B gas and liquid only C gas and solid…

A stationary smoke particle is hit by a fast-moving nitrogen molecule. Which row describes the motion of the smoke particle and of the nitrogen molecule after the collision? smoke…

A bubble of gas rises from the bottom of a lake to the top. The table shows readings of the gas pressure inside the bubble and the volume of the bubble. The temperature of the…

The diagram shows a glass flask sealed with a small volume of mercury in a glass tube. When the flask is gently warmed, the mercury rises up the tube. The diagram shows a…

The diagram shows the equipment used in an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal. In the experiment, a heater is switched on for t s and the increase in…

The diagram shows four rods. Each rod is made of a different metal. Four rods cross at a central point X, forming an X shape. The upper-left rod (end P) is brass; the upper-right…

Which row describes the particle structure of a gas? distance between the particles motion of the particles --- --- --- A close together vibrating B close together random C far…

The particles of a gas in a container of fixed volume gain energy in the kinetic store. Which effect does this have on the gas? A Both the pressure and the temperature of the gas…

Gas particles exert a pressure when they collide with the walls of a container. Which statement about the gas particles is correct? A They experience a change in force, which…

A solid changes into a liquid. Which term describes this change in state? A boiling B condensation C freezing D melting

The diagram shows some of the apparatus used to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal block. A battery is connected through an ammeter to a heater inside a metal block;…

An object has a constant temperature. Which statement is correct? A There is no energy transfer to or from the object. B The rate at which the object receives energy is the same…

Complete the sentence about the kinetic particle model of matter. The movement of the particles in a gas is ............ .

Complete the sentences about the kinetic particle model of matter. The movement of the particles in a gas is ........................ .

Fig. 4.1 shows a heater used to warm the air in a room. The diagram shows a living room with an armchair on the left and a low electric convection heater standing on the floor to…

Fig. 4.1 shows a pan with a copper base on a hotplate. The hotplate heats the pan and the water. Explain how thermal energy is conducted through the copper base.

Some terms describing changes of state are listed: 1 boiling, 2 solidification, 3 condensation, 4 evaporation. Which two terms identify the same change of state? A 1 and 3 B 1 and…

Diagram 1 shows apparatus (microscope, light, eye) used to observe smoke particles among air particles and smoke particles. Diagram 2 shows how a smoke particle moves randomly.…

How is a temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) converted to a temperature in kelvin (K)? A Add 273 to the temperature in °C. B Divide the temperature in °C by 273. C Multiply the…

The diagram shows a frictionless piston inside a cylinder. The air inside the cylinder is heated and the piston moves outwards. Which statement about the air inside the cylinder…

What increases when the temperature of a copper block increases? A the number of copper atoms in the block B the melting point of the block C the internal energy of the block D…

A textbook gives the description of a thermal process as 'more-energetic molecules escape from the surface of a liquid which causes the liquid to cool'. Which process is being…

The diagram shows changes of state 1, 2, 3, 4 between solid, liquid and gas (1 solid→liquid, 2 liquid→gas, 3 liquid→solid, 4 gas→liquid). What are processes 2 and 3? A 2…

Copper has a melting point of 1100 °C. What is the melting point in kelvin? A 727 K B 827 K C 1373 K D 1473 K

A liquid at room temperature fills a flask and a glass tube to level X. The flask is placed in ice and the liquid level in the tube falls to level Y (below X). Why does the level…

Which row correctly describes the state of water at the temperatures shown (250 K, 300 K, 350 K, 400 K)? A liquid, liquid, gas, gas B solid, solid, liquid, liquid C solid, liquid,…

A liquid is evaporating. The liquid is not boiling. Which statement about the liquid at an instant in time is correct? A Any molecule can escape and from any part of the liquid. B…

A student stirs a hot liquid in a pan with a spoon. Which row explains which material the spoon should be made from so that the student does not burn their hand? A metal; it is a…

In which process does a gas turn into a liquid? A boiling B condensing C freezing D melting

A pollen grain in a beaker of still water is viewed through a microscope. Which diagram (A, B, C or D) shows the most likely movement of the pollen grain? (The correct answer…

What is the relationship between temperatures in kelvin (T) and temperatures in degrees Celsius (θ)? A θ = T + 273 B θ = T − 273 C θ = T + 373 D θ = T − 373

In a famous experiment, a scientist showed that when water in an insulated tub is stirred, its temperature increases. What can be concluded from this experiment? A Temperature is…

Solids expand when heated and contract when cooled. In which example is there a useful application of expansion and not an unwanted effect? A bridges B railway lines C telephone…

A rod is made half of aluminium and half of glass, with a pin attached to each end by wax. The rod is heated at the centre; a pin falls off when the wax melts. Pin P is on the…

A man puts some ice into a glass of water on a warm day. After a short time the ice disappears and water droplets appear on the outside of the glass. Which two changes of state…

Gas of volume 200 cm³ is trapped in a container by a piston. The piston is pushed so the volume decreases to 100 cm³. The temperature of the gas remains constant. Which row states…

During evaporation of a liquid, the most energetic particles escape and the temperature of the remaining liquid changes. Which row identifies where these particles escape from and…

Wet clothes are put out on a line to allow the water to evaporate. Which type of weather would cause the water to evaporate most quickly? A a cold day with no wind B a cold day…

What are the correct terms for each change of state? A liquid to solid: solidification; liquid to gas: condensation B liquid to solid: melting; liquid to gas: condensation C…

Extremely small pollen grains in water are viewed through a microscope. The grains move continually and randomly. What is the reason for this random movement? A The grains are…

Which effect is caused by thermal expansion? A a metal surface heating up in direct sunlight B ice-cream melting on a hot day C a railway track buckling on a hot day D ice forming…

The temperature of the water at the bottom of a waterfall is greater than at the top. The energy in the gravitational potential store of the water at the top is transferred to the…

An ice cube is placed in a beaker and heated. It melts to form water, which evaporates and then boils. The steam condenses on a cold window. Which process involves a transfer of…

A teacher shows a polystyrene cup (thick plastic with tiny air bubbles). Three suggestions are made for why the cup keeps a hot drink warm: 1 It contains air which is a poor…

A piece of solid metal melts to become a liquid. How do the particles of metal or their behaviour change? A They increase in size. B They move around each other. C They move much…

Brownian motion of particles is observed. Three statements: 1 The particles all travel along a curved path. 2 The particles move randomly. 3 The particles all travel in the same…

A fixed mass of air in a cylinder is compressed by a piston so the volume decreases at constant temperature. How do the air particles now collide with the cylinder walls? A less…

The liquid level in a thermometer rises when the thermometer is placed in hot water. What causes this? A The liquid contracts. B The liquid evaporates. C The liquid expands. D The…

Which statement describes what happens as ice at 0 °C melts to become water? A Energy is absorbed and the temperature remains constant. B Energy is absorbed and the temperature…

Which row explains how increasing the surface area of a fixed volume of liquid water and blowing air over the surface speeds up evaporation? A increasing the surface area…

The table shows the state of materials P, Q, R and S, and whether each contains free electrons (P gas, no free electrons; Q liquid, no free electrons; R solid, with free…

Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of gas particles.

A student wants to compare the conduction of thermal energy through rods made of iron, copper, glass and aluminium. Each rod is coated with wax. Fig. 6.1 shows the equipment: the…

Fig. 5.1 shows a metal block at room temperature on a table. Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles in the metal block.

Fig. 4.1 represents the regular arrangement of particles in a solid. Fig. 4.2 is an empty box for drawing gas particles. Describe the motion of the particles in a solid.

Fig. 5.1 represents an arrangement for heating water. The hot water is stored in a metal container; cold water flows in at the bottom and hot water flows out at the top; an…

Fig. 3.1 shows a small block of ice floating in a beaker of warm water. State one way in which the motion of the particles in ice differs from the motion of the particles in water.

State two ways that evaporation differs from boiling.

Fig. 4.1 shows a stainless-steel saucepan containing water being heated on an electric cooker. State what happens to the water particles as the water temperature increases.

Fig. 5.1 shows two containers, each filled with hot water: one metal and one non-metal. The outer surface of the metal container is hot. Explain how electrons transfer thermal…

A quantity of water is boiled to form the same mass of steam. Which row shows how the volume and density of the water change? (Columns: volume; density.) A volume decreases;…

The diagram represents gas particles moving around in a sealed container. The gas particles collide with the walls of the container. The temperature of the gas is increased. What…

A metal object is heated strongly in an oven. What happens to the volume of the object and the internal energy stored in the object? (Columns: volume; internal energy.) A volume…

Which row describes the process of melting? (Columns: initial state; final state; change in temperature.) A liquid; gas; yes B liquid; solid; no C solid; gas; yes D solid; liquid;…

A beaker of water is heated and thermal energy travels through the water by convection. What happens to the density of the water when it is heated and how does the water move? A…

A fixed mass of air is trapped inside a cylinder fitted with a moveable piston. The piston is slowly pushed in. What happens to the pressure and the volume of the trapped air?…

The diagram shows electricity cables being put up on a warm day. The cables are suspended between the supporting pylons and hang loosely. Why are the cables not tightened to make…

Which diagram shows the overall movement of particles and the temperature change when a liquid evaporates? Four diagrams: A particles escape from the liquid, liquid cools; B…

The air temperature rises from 10 °C to 40 °C. What is the change in temperature, expressed in kelvin? A 30 K B 50 K C 243 K D 303 K

Which effect is not due to thermal expansion? A convection currents in air B expansion of a bubble rising through a fizzy drink C expansion of a liquid in a thermometer D…

On a hot summer day, the level of the water in a pond falls. Which statement explains this? A The least energetic water particles escape from the surface and do not return. B The…

The diagram shows a vacuum flask used to keep liquid hot. How does thermal energy pass through the vacuum? A conduction and convection only B conduction only C convection only D…

Some air is trapped inside a metal container with a tightly fitting lid. The container is heated strongly behind a safety screen. The lid is blown off by the increased pressure of…

A very hot mug of coffee is near a large unheated swimming pool holding 2.0 × 10⁵ kg of water. Which statement is correct? A If the mug of coffee is tipped in the pool, the coffee…

A student measures the mass of water in an open container over two hours. The container is kept in a warm room. The results are in the table: time/hours, mass of water/g: 0.0,…

A 1 kg block of aluminium requires more thermal energy to raise its temperature by 1 °C than a 1 kg block of copper requires. Why is this? A Aluminium is a better conductor of…

A block of ice is at a temperature of −100 °C. Energy is supplied at a constant rate. The graph shows how its temperature changes, with points 1, 2, 3, 4 marked along the curve…

Water can exist in three states: solid (ice), liquid (liquid water) and gas (steam). In which states is the motion of the water particles only vibrational? A liquid water and ice…

A cube has sides 2.0 m long. The cube contains a gas at a pressure of 8000 N/m². A second cube has sides 4.0 m long. This cube contains the same mass of the same gas as the first…

Which row gives the correct name for each change of state shown (gas to liquid; liquid to solid; solid to liquid)? A condensation; melting; solidification B condensation;…

In an experiment to measure specific heat capacity, a block of aluminium is heated and its rise in temperature is measured. The internal energy gained by the block is ΔE. The mass…

Which statement about the transfer of thermal energy is correct? A All metals conduct thermal energy equally well. B Convection can only occur in solids or liquids. C Convection…

A gas is heated in a sealed container. The volume of the container does not change. What happens to the particles of the gas? A The average distance between particles increases. B…

Air in a sealed syringe is slowly compressed by moving the piston. The temperature of the air stays the same. Which statement about the air is correct? A The pressure of the air…

Which statement about the evaporation of a liquid is correct? A The least energetic particles escape from the surface and the temperature of the liquid decreases. B The least…

A solid is heated causing it to expand. Which effect does this have on its mass and on its density? A mass decreases; density decreases B mass decreases; density stays constant C…

A glass test-tube containing water is heated at the top. The water at the top boils, but the water at the bottom remains cold. Which row explains why the water at the bottom of…

Fig. 5.1 shows a metal box. The air in the box is at room temperature, 20 °C. Air cannot leave or enter the box. Describe the motion, separation and arrangement of the air…

A sealed glass bottle contains air. The temperature of the air is 21 °C. Calculate the temperature of the air in kelvin.

Fig. 6.1 shows a wood burner in a cabin. The wood burner keeps the inside of the cabin warm when it is cold outside. Explain how thermal energy from the wood burner warms the…

Table 5.1 defines three specific temperatures. Complete Table 5.1 by writing the correct temperature (in °C) for each definition: pure water boiling at standard atmospheric…

Describe an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of aluminium. You may draw a diagram. Include in your answer: the measurements made; any equations needed.

Fig. 4.1 shows a pressure cooker on an electric heating element. The cooker has a tight-fitting lid. The pressure cooker is half-full of water. As the water is heated some water…

Fig. 5.1 represents some particles of a gas in a metal box. The arrows represent the directions of movement of the particles. Describe how the particles in Fig. 5.1 exert a…

A student has a block of solid metal at room temperature. Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles in the solid metal.

A tight-fitting lid keeps air inside a metal can. An airtight rubber bung holds a liquid-in-glass thermometer inserted through a hole in the lid (Fig. 4.1). State what happens to…

A rubber balloon is inflated with helium and sealed so that no helium escapes. The balloon is positioned immediately below the ceiling in a room. Heaters are switched on and the…

A student investigates the efficiency of a filament lamp. Fig. 4.1 shows the filament lamp with its glass bulb immersed in water in a beaker, with a thermometer in the water and a…

The temperature of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume is decreased. State and explain, in terms of particles, how the pressure of the gas changes.

State which state of matter, solid, liquid or gas, has the greatest thermal expansion and which has the least.

A student investigates the cooling of water under different conditions (Fig. 2.1: a beaker with a thermometer on a bench). The thermometer in Fig. 2.2 shows the room temperature…

A student investigates the cooling of water (Fig. 2.1: a beaker with a lid and a thermometer on a bench). The thermometer in Fig. 2.2 shows the room temperature θR at the…

Fig. 3.1 represents the arrangement and separation of particles in a liquid. Each circle represents a particle (drawn close together but not in a regular pattern). In the box in…

Fig. 6.1 shows a cold drink in a thermal jug. The jug reduces thermal energy transfer from the surroundings to the drink. It has a hinged lid, ice, a vacuum (empty space), plastic…

Fig. 4.1 shows a pan on a hotplate. The hotplate heats the pan and the water. The pan has shiny sides, a wooden handle and a copper base. Use your ideas about thermal energy…

A copper cooking pan contains water. Fig. 2.1 shows the pan on a hotplate of a cooker. Copper is a metal. Thermal energy is conducted through all solids by lattice vibrations.…

Liquids are difficult to compress whereas gases can be compressed easily. Explain, in terms of particles, why it is difficult to compress liquids.

Fig. 2.1 shows an electric tumble dryer used to dry wet clothes. Hot air blows into the drum, gains water vapour from the clothes, then leaves the drum. The moist air enters the…

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…

The lowest possible temperature is zero kelvin (0 K). State the name of this lowest possible temperature.