Physics Section II – Thermal physics CAIE Revision Worksheet

3 Thermal Physics
2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter
1. Fig. shows a syringe that contains gas at the same pressure as the air outside. The piston moves freely
along the cylinder without any friction. No gas escapes.

As the syringe is heated from 20 °C to 100 °C, the piston moves outwards. It stops moving when the
temperature is steady. State how the value of each of the following quantities compares at 100 °C, after the
piston stops, with its value at 20 °C. For each quantity you should write greater, the same or less.
the average distance between the gas molecules
the pressure of the gas after the piston stops
the average speed of the gas molecules
the frequency of the collisions between
the gas molecules and the piston

2. (a) State one difference between the arrangements of molecules in a solid and in a liquid. [1]
(b) By writing about the forces between molecules and the motion of molecules, explain why the molecules of a
solid and of a liquid have different arrangements. [1]

3. Most substances expand when they are heated.

(a) (i) State one example where expansion is useful. [1]
(ii) State one example where expansion causes a problem. [1]
(b) Explain, using ideas about molecules, why solids expand when heated. [2]
(c) When equal volumes are heated through the same temperature rise, the expansions of solids, liquids and
gases are different. Complete each of the two sentences using one of these expressions:
much larger slightly larger much smaller slightly smaller
1. The expansion of a solid is ................................................ than the expansion of a liquid.
2. The expansion of a gas is ................................................ than the expansion of a liquid. [2]

4. A particular type of cooking oil is a liquid at room temperature. At room temperature, air is easily
compressed but the oil cannot be compressed. Explain, in terms of molecules,
(i) why the density of the oil is much greater than that of a gas, [1]
(ii) why the oil cannot be compressed. [1]

5. (a) Describe the motion of the molecules in solid, liquid and gas. [3]
(b) Suggest why a gas is able to fill a container but a solid has a fixed shape. [2]

6. (a) The lid of a freezer is closed and air at room temperature is trapped inside the freezer. The freezer is
switched on. State and explain, using ideas about molecules, what happens to the pressure of the air in the
freezer, as it cools. [3]
(b) When the freezer reaches its operating temperature, it is more difficult to open the lid. Explain why. [1]

7. A passenger in an aircraft seals some air inside a plastic bag.

(a) Explain how the particles of air in the bag exert a pressure on
the inside of the bag. [2]
(b) When the bag is closed, the pressure of the air inside the
aircraft is 80 kPa and the bag contains 500 cm3 of air.
(i) When the aircraft is on the ground, the pressure of the air
inside the aircraft is 100 kPa. Calculate the volume of air inside
the bag when the aircraft is on the ground. [2]
(ii) State one assumption that you made in your calculation in (i).
[1]
(c) The point plotted on the graph shows the initial pressure and
volume of the air inside the bag.
Sketch a line to show how the volume of the air changes as the
pressure increases. [2]

8. State and explain, in terms of molecules, any change in the

pressure of a gas when the volume is reduced at a constant
temperature. [3]

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Physics Section II – Thermal physics CAIE Revision Worksheet
9. Fig. shows a volume of gas in a cylinder.
The piston in the cylinder is free to move. The piston moves to the left
when the temperature of the gas is decreased. Explain, in terms of the
molecules of the gas, why this happens. [4]

10. Some gas is trapped in a metal cylinder by a piston.

(a) The position of the piston is fixed. The cylinder is moved from a cold room to a warm room.
Explain, in terms of molecules, what happens to the pressure of the gas in the cylinder. [4]
(b) The piston is now released. It moves to the right and finally stops.
Explain these observations in terms of the pressure and the volume of the gas in the cylinder. [2]

11. (a) The lowest possible temperature is zero kelvin (0 K).

(i) State the name of this lowest possible temperature. [1]
(ii) Nitrogen boils at 77 K. Calculate the boiling point of nitrogen on the Celsius scale. [2]
(b) A sample of gas is at a pressure of 120 kPa. The volume of the gas is doubled at constant temperature.
Calculate the new pressure of the gas. [2]
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12. (i) State the value of absolute zero in °C. [1]

(ii) Explain what is meant by the term absolute zero. Refer to particles in your answer. [2]

13. A diver holds his breath and dives into the sea from a boat to a depth of 25.0 m.
The atmospheric pressure is 1.05 × 105 Pa. As the diver holds his breath and descends to a depth of 25.0 m, the
greater pressure causes the volume of the air trapped in his lungs to change. When he is on the boat, the total
volume of the air in his lungs is 6000 cm3. Calculate the volume of this air at a depth of 25.0 m. [2]

2.2 Thermal properties and temperature

14. The average input power to a freezer is 80 W. A large jug containing 1.5 kg of water is placed in the freezer.
(i) The water cools from 25 °C to 0 °C in a time of 60 minutes. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.2 J / (g
°C). Calculate the thermal energy (heat) removed from the water as it cools from 25 °C to 0 °C. [3]
(ii) Ice at 0 °C becomes water at 0 °C. State what, if anything, happens to the kinetic energy and the potential
energy of the molecules as this happens. [1]

15. A copper block of mass 1.8 kg has two holes on the top. An 80 W heater is placed in one hole and a
thermometer in the other. The heater is switched on for 5.0 minutes. Assume that no energy is lost from the
block.
(i) Calculate the energy supplied to the block. [2]
(ii) The specific heat capacity of copper is 390 J / (kg °C). Calculate the rise in temperature of the block. [2]

16. A kitchen tap supplies instant boiling water. Cold water passes over an electric immersion heater inside the
tap.
The immersion heater is powered by the mains at a voltage of 230 V. When the tap is opened, the heater
switches on and the current in the heater is 13 A.
(i) Calculate the thermal energy produced by the heater in 60 s.[2]
(ii) The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). The cold water that enters the tap is at 22 °C.
Calculate the rate at which water at its boiling point emerges from the tap. [4]

17. A hotplate is switched on and, as the temperature of the water increases, the internal energy of the water
increases.
(i) State, in terms of molecules, what is meant by an increase in internal energy. [1]
(ii) Explain, in terms of the atomic lattice and electrons, how thermal energy is transferred through the
aluminium. [2]
(iii) Eventually, the water reaches boiling point. Thermal energy from the hotplate is still being transferred to the
water. Explain, in terms of molecules, the effect of this thermal energy on the water. [3]
(iv) There are bubbles within the boiling water. State what is inside each bubble. [1]

18. A student places a small electrical heater inside a cup of water. During heating, the student notices that
some of the water evaporates from the cup.
(i) Describe, using ideas about molecules of water, what happens during evaporation. [2]
(ii) The student finds that the amount of evaporation increases when the temperature of the water is higher.
State and explain one other change that increases the amount of evaporation. [2]
(iii) State two differences between evaporation and boiling. [2]

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Physics Section II – Thermal physics CAIE Revision Worksheet
19. Describe, in terms of molecules, what happens when a liquid evaporates. [4]
20. A nurse places a damp cloth on the forehead of a sick patient. As the water evaporates, the patient’s
forehead is cooled. Explain in terms of the water molecules how the cooling is produced. [3]

21. A large test-tube contains wax above its melting

point. It is placed in a cool room.
Fig. shows how the temperature T of the wax
changes in a time of 30 minutes.
(a) Determine the melting point of the wax. [1]
(b) (i) State what happens to the wax between 3 and
16 minutes. [1]
(ii) Between 3 and 16 minutes, the temperature of
the wax is above room temperature and energy is
lost to the room. Explain, in terms of molecules, why
the temperature of the wax remains constant. [2]

22. (a) A plastic cup contains sand, an electric heater

and a thermometer. The power of the heater is 50 W. The mass of the sand in the cup is 550 g. The initial
temperature of the sand is 20 °C. The heater is switched on for 2.0 minutes. The temperature is recorded
until the temperature stops increasing. The highest temperature recorded by the thermometer is 33 °C.
(i) Calculate the energy supplied by the heater.[2]
(ii) Calculate a value for the specific heat capacity of the sand, using your answer to (a)(i) and the data in the
question. [3]
(iii) Explain why the specific heat capacity of sand may be different from the value calculated in (a)(ii). [2]
(b) On a sunny day, the temperature of the sand on a beach is much higher than the temperature of the sea.
Explain why. [2]

23. A heater has a power of 1.5 kW. The air in the room has a mass of 65 kg.
The specific heat capacity of air is 720 J / (kg °C).
(i) Calculate the time it takes for this heater to raise the temperature of the air in the room from 8.0 °C to 15.0 °C.
[4]
(ii) State two reasons why the time calculated in (b)(i) is smaller than the actual time taken to raise the
temperature of the air in the room from 8.0 °C to 15.0 °C. [2]

24. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). The heater is used to increase the temperature of 6.3
kg of water. The power used by the heater is 2.8 kW
(i) In a certain time, the temperature of the water increases from 23 °C to 49 °C. Calculate the change in the
internal energy of the water. [2]
(ii) The heater supplies thermal energy to the water at a constant rate. It takes more time for the temperature of
the water to increase from 49 °C to 75 °C than from 23 °C to 49 °C. In both cases, the increase in temperature is
the same. Suggest why it takes more time for the temperature to increase from 49 °C to 75 °C. [1]

25. A student is supplied with a small block of iron, a thermometer and an

electrical heater of power P.
There are two holes drilled in the iron block. The heater fits tightly into one
hole and the student places the thermometer into the other hole.
The student uses this equipment when determining the specific heat capacity
of iron. State:
• the other equipment the student will need
• the measurements the student needs to take
• the equation used when calculating the value of the specific heat capacity
of iron. [4]

26. The graph in Fig. shows the variation of temperature with time
for a substance that is initially liquid.
(i) State what is taking place at points A, B and C. You should say
what changes of state, if any, are taking place. [3]
(ii) Suggest why the graph is steeper at point C than at point A.
[1]

27. Using ideas about molecules,

(i) explain why energy is needed to change ice into water, [1]
(ii) suggest why less energy is needed to change ice into water
than to change the same mass of water into steam. [1]

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Physics Section II – Thermal physics CAIE Revision Worksheet
2.3 Transfer of thermal energy
28. Glass and iron are both conductors of heat. However, glass is a poor conductor of heat and iron is a good
conductor of heat. Describe, using ideas about particles, how the conduction of heat takes place in glass and
in iron. You should make it clear why iron is a better conductor of heat. [4]
29. The casing of an electric kettle is made of white plastic. The heating element positioned in the base of the
kettle.
(a) (i) The heating element supplies thermal energy to the water at the bottom of the kettle.
Describe and explain how the thermal energy is transferred throughout the water. [3]
(ii) Explain why a kettle with its heating element in the water at the top of the kettle does not heat the water
uniformly. [1]
(b) Explain one advantage of (i) using plastic for the casing of a kettle, [1]
(ii) choosing white as the colour for the outside of the casing. [1]

30. (a) On a sunny day, the Sun warms the road.

Describe how energy from the Sun reaches the Earth and warms the road. [3]
(b) The temperature of the road is greater than the temperature of the sea. The surface of the road is black.
Suggest one reason why the temperature of the road is greater than that of the sea. [2]
(c) The air above the road is heated by the warm road.
(i) Describe how this affects the molecules of the air. [2]
(ii) A cyclist travelling along the road notices that a cool breeze is blowing from the sea to the land. Explain how
convection produces this breeze. You may include a diagram if it helps your answer. [3]

31. Two metal spheres of different diameters are heated to 900 °C in a hot oven.
(i) The two spheres are removed from the oven. State and explain any difference in the initial rates of emission
of radiation of thermal energy between the two spheres. [2]
(ii) One hot sphere is now heated in a hotter oven.
State and explain any effect on the rate of emission of radiation of thermal energy from that sphere when it is
removed from the hotter oven. [3]

32. Explain why houses in hot countries are often painted white. Use ideas about the transfer of thermal energy
in your answer. [3]

33. In a certain country, the climate is very sunny and hot during the day and extremely cold during the night.
Explain how painting the houses white helps to maintain a comfortable temperature both during the day and
during the night.

34. Fig. shows a layer of fibreglass placed between the ceiling of a

room and the roof of a house. Explain how the layer of fibreglass
helps to keep the room warm when it is cold outside. [2]

35. Fig. shows a firefighter. The jacket of his protection suit has a shiny, silver-coloured outer surface.
Underneath it he wears a loosely-woven mesh T-shirt (string vest).
Explain how wearing the shiny jacket and the mesh T-shirt helps to keep the
firefighter cool when he is close to a source of intense heat. w10_qp22 [Q3(b)]

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