Thermal physics — IGCSE Physics (0972) 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…

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 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?…

A fixed mass of gas has a volume of 1.2 m^3 and is at a pressure of 200 kPa. The gas expands at constant temperature to a volume of 1.8 m^3. What is the new pressure of the gas? A…

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 degC of unit mass of…

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. What is the main cause of…

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. The four rods cross at a central point X. The rods are: brass (end P), copper (end Q), silver (end S) and iron…

A student uses the apparatus in Fig. 5.1 to compare how different surfaces absorb infrared radiation. There are two metal containers. One has a dull black surface and the other…

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. State the main method of thermal energy transfer throughout the air in the room.

Hot water is poured into a glass beaker and allowed to cool down for 5 minutes. Plan an experiment to investigate whether the rate of cooling of the hot water depends upon the…

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 4 C…

Diagram 1 shows apparatus being used to observe smoke particles (a microscope, light, and a cell of air 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. The piston moves outward in the direction shown. Which statement about the air…

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…

In which situation is radiation the main method by which energy is transferred? A heating a pan of water using a gas camping stove B energy reaching the Earth from the Sun C…

The diagram shows the changes in state, 1, 2, 3 and 4, between solids, liquids and gases (1: solid→liquid, 2: liquid→gas, 3: liquid→solid, 4: gas→liquid). What are processes 2 and…

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 changes to a lower level Y. Why does the level…

Which row correctly describes the state of water at the temperatures shown? A 250 K: liquid; 300 K: liquid; 350 K: gas; 400 K: gas B 250 K: solid; 300 K: solid; 350 K: liquid; 400…

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 material:…

Thermal radiation is emitted from all objects. Which mediums can thermal radiation travel through? (Thermal radiation can travel through glass, water, air and a vacuum.) A, B, C,…

A man puts some ice into a glass of water on a warm day. After a short time, he notices that the ice disappears and that water droplets appear on the outside of the glass. Which…

Gas of volume 200 cm³ is trapped inside a container by a piston. The piston is pushed to the right and the volume of the gas decreases to 100 cm³. The temperature of the gas…

Which graph shows the relationship between the pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature? (Pressure inversely proportional to volume.) A, B, C, D show…

During evaporation of a liquid, the most energetic particles escape. 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 in the clothes to evaporate. Which type of weather would cause the water to evaporate most quickly? A a cold day with no wind…

A solar water heater is designed to absorb energy from sunlight. Which surface texture and colour would be best for the solar water heater? A dull black B shiny black C dull white…

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 are seen to move continually and randomly. What is the reason for this random movement? A The…

Which graph shows how the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature varies with its pressure? (Volume inversely proportional to pressure.) A, B, C, D show different…

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 the temperature of the water at the top. The energy in the gravitational potential store of the water at…

An ice cube is placed in a beaker and is heated. The ice melts to form water, which evaporates at first and then boils. The steam condenses on a cold window in the room. Which…

A teacher shows his class a polystyrene cup. The polystyrene is a thick plastic with lots of tiny air bubbles in it. He asks why the cup is so good at keeping a hot drink warm.…

Two samples of the same material have the same mass but different surface areas (X small surface area, Y large surface area). Each is heated to the same temperature and then left…

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. 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.

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? volume density --- --- --- A decreases decreases B…

The diagram represents gas particles moving around in a sealed container. The temperature of the gas is increased. What happens to the average speed of the gas particles and 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? volume internal energy --- --- --- A decreases…

Which row describes the process of melting? initial state final state change in temperature --- --- --- --- A liquid gas yes B liquid solid no C solid gas yes D solid liquid no

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…

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 × 10⁶ 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. Results show mass decreasing from 33.9 g to 22.5 g. Why does the…

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. A temperature-time graph shows points 1, 2, 3, 4 where: 1 is where ice finishes melting, 2 is…

Air is a gas. Describe the properties of the particles in air.

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.

A student investigates the cooling of water in a metal container. The student uses a thermometer to measure room temperature θR. Room temperature is 23 °C. Show clearly, on Fig.…

Gases, liquids and solids are made up of small particles. Which row gives the relative separation of the particles? A gas: far apart; liquid: far apart; solid: far apart B gas:…

Which statements about evaporation of water are correct? 1 Evaporation causes the remaining liquid to cool. 2 During evaporation, the more energetic particles escape from the…

Which surface is the worst absorber of infrared radiation? A dull black B dull white C shiny black D shiny white

Four students describe the phrase 'absolute zero' during a lesson on the particle model. Which student is correct? A This is the lowest possible temperature. B Particles in a…

At the surface of a liquid, the more energetic molecules can escape from the liquid into the atmosphere. Which name is given to this process? A boiling B condensation C…

A teacher puts some cold water in a test-tube. She holds the bottom of the test-tube while heating the top. The water at the top boils but she continues to hold the test-tube as…

A student uses a microscope to observe pollen moving on the surface of water. Which statement describes the reason for this movement? A Water molecules are moved by microscopic…

Which statements about evaporation of water are correct? 1 Evaporation causes the remaining liquid to cool. 2 During evaporation, the more energetic particles escape from the…

Some hot water is sealed inside a metal can. The can is in a vacuum in outer space. The hot water slowly cools down. How does the thermal energy escape into space? A by conduction…

Four students describe the phrase 'absolute zero' during a lesson on the particle model. Which student is correct? A This is the lowest possible temperature. B Particles in a…

Four students are asked to state and explain the relative magnitudes of the thermal expansion of solids and gases. Which student is correct? A Gases expand more than solids…

Four cups A, B, C and D contain hot coffee. Which cup keeps the coffee warm the longest? A outside surface: black; top: covered with a lid B outside surface: black; top: no lid C…

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 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. The reading on…

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.

Fig. 5.1 shows an electric heater used to heat a room. The dimensions of the room are 4.5 m × 6.1 m × 2.4 m. The density of air is 1.2 kg/m³. Show that the mass of air in the room…

Why can a gas be compressed easily into a smaller volume? A The particles are far apart. B The particles do not attract each other. C The particles move randomly. D The volume of…

The melting point of mercury is −39 °C. What is the melting point of mercury in kelvin? A −234 K B 61 K C 234 K D 312 K

A bimetallic strip is used to control the temperature of an electrical appliance. It is made of two different metals fixed together (metal P on top, metal Q below). The diagram…

A student has two blocks of metal, X and Y. The temperature of X is 50 °C and the temperature of Y is 0 °C. The two blocks are placed in contact. After some time, both blocks have…

The diagram shows the view of a room heated by a radiator. The arrowed line from X to Y is the path of the convection current in the air (X near the radiator, Y across the room…

Why can a gas be compressed easily into a smaller volume? A The particles are far apart. B The particles do not attract each other. C The particles move randomly. D The volume of…

A gas is contained in a cylinder by a movable piston. The gas is heated so that it expands at constant pressure. How is the force of each collision of a gas particle with the…

On a warm day, a carton of fresh milk is covered with a wet cloth. Why does this help to reduce the temperature of the milk? A Some water evaporates from the cloth so the…

A chef heats some water in a pan on a hotplate. The temperature of the water rises by 10 °C in time t. She then puts the same volume of oil in an identical pan on the same…

The diagram shows the view of a room heated by a radiator. The arrowed line from X to Y is the path of the convection current in the air. Which row about the air temperature and…

Fig. 3.1 represents the arrangement and separation of particles in a liquid (each circle represents a particle). In the box in Fig. 3.2, draw at least four circles to show the…

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

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

A student investigates the time taken for water to evaporate to dryness when heated from above. Fig. 4.1 shows the set-up: an infrared heater above a shallow dish of water,…

A student investigates the time taken for water to evaporate to dryness when heated from above. Fig. 4.1 shows the set-up: an infrared heater above a shallow dish of water,…