SUBJECT IGCSE Physics

MODULE Thermal Effects

ASSIGNMENT Four

STUDENT NAME

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF:

• Answer all questions.

• The questions have been written in a similar form to those you will encounter in the IGCSE
examination. The questions will require you to demonstrate either some or all of the three
assessment objectives. These include AO1 (Knowledge with understanding), AO2 (Handling
information and problem-solving) and AO3 (Experimental skills and investigations).
• All the resources referred to in the questions are contained within the paper.
• Multiple choice questions should be answered by drawing a circle around the letter next to the
correct answer.
• The number of marks is given in brackets at the end of each question or part question.
Remember: the marks will act as a guide as to how much you need to write. If an answer is
worth two marks you will need to state two facts, or one fact and an explanation.
• In any questions involving calculations you may use a calculator, and, in these questions, it is
very important that you show your working and explain how you arrived at the answer. Please
put a line through any incorrect working; such crossed-out working will not be marked.
• The total number of marks for this paper is 80. Your mark will be converted to a percentage.
• Recommended time: 1 hour 30 minutes. If you need more time, draw a line across your page
and label it ‘time limit reached’ then complete the assignment. This helps your tutor to monitor
your progress in time management – an essential exam skill that you will develop over the
course.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Make sure you write your full name clearly in the box at the top of this page.
• Please write your answers by hand in black ink on the question paper. Drawings which serve to
illustrate an answer should be in pencil. Please leave space between your answers for your
tutor’s comments.
• You are not expected to complete your assignments without referring to your notes or
coursebook. However, we encourage you to rely less on these as you progress through the
course. By your final assignment you should be able to work without reference to any additional
notes.
• Please see the Canvas Guide for help on uploading your assignment.
IGCSE PHYSICS ASSIGNMENT 04

IGCSE Physics Assignment Four

QUESTIONS

The first nine questions are multiple choice.

1. An ice cube at a temperature of 0°C is put into a drink at a temperature of 10°C. After a short
time, some of the ice has melted and the drink has cooled to a temperature of 8°C.

What is the temperature of the remaining ice?

A 0°C

B 2°C

C 4°C

D 8°C

(Total 1 mark)

2. An experiment is set up to find out which metal is the best conductor of heat. Balls are stuck
with wax to make rods made from different metals, as shown in diagram X. The rods are heated
at one end. Some of the balls fall off, leaving some as shown in diagram Y.

Which labelled metal is the best conductor of heat? Circle the correct bar in diagram Y

(Total 1 mark)

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3. When a liquid evaporates, some molecules escape from it and its temperature changes.

From where do the molecules escape and what is the effect on the temperature of the
liquid?

Molecules to escape from Temperature of liquid

A All parts of the liquid Decreases

B All parts of the liquid Increases

C Only the liquid surface Decreases

D Only the liquid surface Increases

(Total 1 mark)

4. A sealed gas cylinder is left outside on a hot, sunny day. What happens to the average speed of
the molecules and to the pressure of the gas in the cylinder as the temperature rises?

Average speed of the gas Gas pressure

molecules

A Falls Falls

B Falls Rises

C Rises Falls

D Rises Rises

(Total 1 mark)

5. Food is kept in a cool box which uses two ice packs to keep it cool. Where should the ice packs
be placed to keep all the food as cool as possible?

A Both on the bottom of the box.

B Both at the top of the box.

C One at the front and one at the back of the box.

D One on the left and one on the right of the box.

(Total 1 mark)

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6. The diagram shows an electric heater being used to heat a beaker of water and an identical
beaker for oil for several minutes.

The temperature of the water and the temperature of the oil increase constantly. The rise in
temperature of the oil is much greater than that of the water.

Why is this?

A The oil has a higher boiling point than water.

B The oil has a higher thermal capacity than water.

C The oil has a lower boiling point than water.

D The oil has a lower thermal capacity than water.

(Total 1 mark)

7. Evaporation occurs when molecules escape from a liquid surface into the air above it. During this
process the temperature of the liquid falls.

Why does the temperature of the liquid fall?

A The molecules in the vapour expand because the pressure is less.

B The molecules left in the liquid have more space to move around.

C The molecules move more slowly when they escape into the air.

D The molecules with the highest energies escape into the air.

(Total 1 mark)

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8. Two identical copper cans are filled with boiling water.

One can is insulated with wool. The temperature of the water in each can is taken every minute
for several minutes. Graphs of the results are plotted. Which graph correctly shows the results?

(Total 1 mark)

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9. The diagram shows a cooling unit in a refrigerator.

Why is the cooling unit placed at the top?

A Cold air falls and warm air is displaced upwards.

B Cold air is a bad conductor, so heat is not conducted into the refrigerator.

C Cold air is a good conductor, so heat is conducted out of the refrigerator.

D Cold air remains at the top and so prevents convection.

(Total 1 mark)

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10. The Celsius temperature scale (expressed in units of °C) is based on the freezing point and
boiling point of pure water, with a change of 100 °C between these two points. Temperatures in
Kelvin units (K) also have 100 degrees of change between freezing and boiling water, but the
Kelvin scale starts at Absolute Zero, which is the coldest temperature possible anywhere in the
universe. To the nearest degree, 0 K corresponds to -273 °C.

a. Use this information to fill in all the missing values in the table below.

Fixed point Temperature T (K) Temperature T

(°C)

Absolute Zero 0 -273

Boiling point of liquid Nitrogen 77

Freezing point of ethanol -114

(alcohol)

Freezing point of water

Boiling point of water 373

Melting point of gold 1064

(9 marks)

b. Explain why an alcohol thermometer cannot be used to measure the boiling point of liquid
Nitrogen.

(1 mark)
(Total 10 marks)

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11. A student is testing how different metal surfaces absorb radiant heat. The student puts two
metal plates in holders and places them on either side of a radiant heater as shown in this
diagram.

One plate has a shiny metal side facing towards the heater and the other plate has a dull black
side facing towards the heater. A metal disc is attached to each plate using wax. The student
turns on the radiant heater and starts a stop-clock. The wax on the plate with a dull black side
melts and the metal disc falls off the plate 53 seconds after the stop-clock is started. The metal
disc on the plate with a shiny metal side remains attached for another 32 seconds after the
metal disc on the first plate falls.

i. Explain why the metal disc on the plate with a dull black side falls before the metal disc on
the plate with the shiny metal side.

(2 marks)

Another student observes the experiment and says that the comparison of the two plates is not
fair.

ii. Suggest why the experiment is not fair.

(2 marks)
(Total 4 marks)

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12. The temperature of a block of iron is increased.

a. State what happens to:

i. The energy of the atoms due to their vibrations.

(1 mark)

ii. The average separation of the atoms.

(1 mark)

iii. The density of the iron.

(1 mark)

b. When concrete roads are made, the concrete is laid in sections, with gaps between the
sections. The gaps are then filled with a soft material, called pitch. This is shown in the

figure:

Explain what might happen if concrete is laid without gaps like this.

(2 marks)
(Total 5 marks)

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13. Energy may be transferred from one place to another by means of conduction, convection or
radiation.

Which process(es) is/are involved when energy is transferred through:

a. A solid

(1 mark)

b. A liquid

(2 marks)

c. A vacuum?

(1 mark)
(Total 4 marks)

14. Some very fine grains of powder are mixed with some water. The powder does not dissolve. A
small drop of the mixture is put on a glass slide and viewed through a microscope. The powder
grains are observed to be moving with a jerky, random motion.

a. What name is given to this movement of the powder grains?

(1 mark)

b. Explain what causes the powder grains to behave like this.

(2 mark)
(Total 3 marks)

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15. This question is based on an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a liquid.

a. In the space below, draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus you would use to measure the
specific heat capacity of a liquid.

(3 marks)

b. In the table, list the quantities you would have to measure, and the equipment used to
measure each one.

Quantity to measure Equipment used to measure it

(6 marks)
(Total 9 marks)

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16. Use the information in the table when answering this question (‘fusion’ means turning from
liquid to solid, and heat is described as ‘latent’ when energy is absorbed or given out, but no
temperature change is observed).

Specific heat capacity of ice 2.0J/g°C

Specific heat capacity of water 4.2J/g°C

Specific latent heat of fusion of ice 330J/g

Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water 2260J/g

A block of ice is taken from a freezer at -25°C, placed in a metal container, and heated by a
source of constant power.

The graph in Fig. 4.1 shows how the temperature of the contents of the container changes with
time. At point E on the graph the container is empty.

a. State what is taking place in the following regions of the graph:

i. B to C

(1 mark)

ii. D to E

(1 mark)

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b. Use the information in the table to explain why the line DE is longer than the line BC.

(1 mark)

c. Use the information in the table to explain why the graph is steeper from A to B than from C
to D.

(1 mark)
(Total 4 marks)

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17. A vacuum flask is used to keep hot liquids hot or cold liquids cold for long periods of time.

Explain all the ways in which each of these design features prevents heat being transferred in, or
out:

a. The cork and cover.

(1 mark)

b. The vacuum between the glass walls.

(1 mark)

c. The silvered surfaces.

(1 mark)
(Total 3 marks)

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18. Below is a table of the specific heat capacities of different substances:

Substance Specific Heat Capacity kJ/kg˚C

Water 4.2
Apples 3.6
Olive oil 2.0

a. Which of the above substances are best for storing energy? Explain your answer.

(2 marks)

b. Making sure you pay attention to the units in the table, calculate the following:

i. The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 10 grams of olive oil from
25˚C to 105˚C.

(3 marks)

ii. The time taken for this heating, if a 30 W heater is used.

(2 marks)

iii. The mass of apples that releases 400 kJ of energy when they are cooled from 70˚C to
20˚C

(3 marks)
(Total 10 marks)

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19. An IGCSE student is investigating temperature changes when hot water and cold water are
mixed.

She is provided with a supply of hot water and a supply of cold water. She pours 100cm3 of the
hot water into a beaker.

a. Record the temperature Tₕ of this water, as shown on the thermometer below:

Tₕ =
(1 mark)

b. She adds 10cm³ of cold water to the beaker of hot water. The temperature T of the cold
water is 24°C. She briefly stirs the mixture of hot and cold water and records in the
temperature Tₘ of the mixture of hot and cold water. She quickly repeats this five times,
adding 10cm³ of cold water each time, until a total of 60cm3 has been added. At each stage
she records the volume added and temperature Tₘ of the mixture in the table below.

V/ Tₘ/

78

74

68

63

61

59

i. Complete the volume column in the table, where V is the total volume of cold water so
far added.

(2 marks)

ii. Complete both the column headings in the table.

(2 marks)

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c. Plot a graph of temperature Tₘ on the y axis, against volume V on the x axis, using the graph
paper below.

(5 marks)

d. If this experiment were to be repeated in order to check the results, it would be important
to control the conditions. Suggest two experimental variables that should be controlled.

(2 marks)

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e. Suggest another practical action, that will enable readings in this experiment to be taken as
accurately as possible.

(1 mark)
(Total 13 marks)

20. Explain, using simple diagrams, how particle behaviour changes when a substance melts, and
when it evaporates.

(Total 6 marks)

TOTAL FOR ASSIGNMENT 80 MARKS

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