Thermal physics — IGCSE Science - Combined (0653) questions by topic
Calculate, explain and state are the command words to expect most often, covering pressure worked out from force and area, volumes converted between cubic decimetres and cubic metres, and conduction, convection and evaporation distinguished from one another. Calculate specifically requires correct unit conversion before the final substitution, not just the right formula written down.
This set has 20 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers, worth 1 to 10 marks, so recall of the correct process name sits beside multi-step pressure calculations. Instant marking on each submission is useful here for catching unit-conversion slips, such as multiplying instead of dividing when converting 1800 dm3 to 1.8 m3.
What examiners look for
- A recurring error confuses conduction, convection and simply naming 'thermal' as the process, where a precise term is required.
- Volume conversions are often reversed, multiplying by 1000 rather than dividing when converting cubic decimetres to cubic metres.
- Examiners note candidates using mass rather than force in pressure calculations.
- Pascals must be written with a capital P; Pa written with a lower-case p is not accepted.
- Strong answers correctly identify radiation where relevant, apply density and volume together accurately, and use p = F ÷ A with the right units throughout.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
A bowl contains warm water. The water evaporates. Which row describes where the evaporation occurs and the effect of the evaporation on the temperature of the remaining water?…
Answer this question and get it marked →The shiny metal handlebars of a bicycle have black plastic hand grips. On a cold day, the shiny metal handlebars feel colder than the black plastic hand grips. Which statement…
Answer this question and get it marked →How is thermal energy transferred by convection in a liquid? A by the loss of more energetic particles from the surface of the liquid B by a flow of particles of the liquid C by…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Which process is the escape of the more energetic particles from the surface of a liquid? A conduction B convection C evaporation D radiation
Answer this question and get it marked →Which row shows a good thermal conductor and a thermal insulator? good thermal conductor thermal insulator --- --- --- A copper air B copper aluminium C water air D water aluminium
Answer this question and get it marked →When a metal bar is heated, the separation of its particles increases and the bar becomes longer. What is this process called? A condensation B contraction C emission D expansion
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
The diagram shows a hand held above a candle flame, with the hand positioned to the side of and above the flame rather than directly over it. What is the main method by which…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
The diagrams show two identical wide beakers and two identical narrow measuring cylinders. One of the beakers and one of the measuring cylinders contain hot water. The other…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which row shows the main method of thermal conduction in metallic and in non-metallic solids? metallic solids non-metallic solids --- --- --- A molecular vibrations molecular…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 22
Which material is a good thermal conductor? A copper B glass C plastic D wood
Answer this question and get it marked →A room contains cold air. An electric heater is used to warm the air. Which statement explains why the warm air rises? A Air contracts as it is warmed. B Particles in warm air…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 23
The diagram shows equipment used to demonstrate convection in air. Point X is labelled. A box with two chimneys on top sits over a base chamber. A burning candle is placed at the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which two factors both increase the rate at which a shallow pool of water evaporates? A greater surface area and higher temperature B greater surface area and lower temperature C…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 31
Some cars are powered by petrol (gasoline) engines made of iron. Petrol burns inside the engine at a temperature of 1800 °C. Iron melts at a temperature of 1538 °C. Suggest why…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 32
Fig. 8.1 shows an electric heater that heats a room. Curved arrows show warm air rising directly above the heater, moving across the top of the room, descending at the far side…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
Fig. 8.1 shows a pan of water being heated on an electric hotplate (the pan sits on the hotplate, with the water boiling and steam rising from the surface). Convection occurs in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
Fig. 3.1 shows a pan of water heated on a cooker, with a glass lid and a thermometer dipping into the water; water droplets form on the underside of the glass lid. As the pan is…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 31
Fig. 3.1 shows a group of people keeping warm by a campfire and playing musical instruments. State the process that causes the hot smoke to move upwards from the fire.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
Fig. 3.1 shows two people keeping warm by a campfire, one playing a guitar. State the process by which the people are warmed by energy coming directly from the fire.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
Fig. 3.1 shows a firefighter standing next to a fire engine. The firefighter sprays water onto the fire. The temperature of the fire is 600 °C. The firefighter is heated by the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Science - Combined topics
- Practical skills (96)
- Motion, forces and energy (53)
- Electricity and magnetism (38)
- Waves (32)
- Human nutrition (23)
- Acids, bases and salts (22)
- Organisms and their environment (21)
- Organic chemistry (21)
- Reproduction (20)
- Plant nutrition (19)
- The Periodic Table (18)
- Metals (18)