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IGCSE Thermal Physics revision part 3

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
To convert from Celsius to Kelvin:
 
K = Degrees Celsius + __________  
a)
251 K
b)
275 K
c)
213 K
d)
273 K
2.

A liquid at room temperature is put on a metal surface which is also at room temperature. A student blows gently across the liquid and its temperature decreases. What causes the liquid to become cooler?

a)

Bubbles of water vapour form in the liquid and go into the air.

b)

The moving air reduces the kinetic energy of all the particles in the liquid.

c)

Thermal energy flows from the liquid into the metal.

d)

The more energetic particles in the liquid escape into the air.

3.

Very small pollen grains are suspended in water. A bright light shines from the side. When looked at through a microscope, small specks of light are seen to be moving in a random, jerky manner.

What are the moving specks of light?

a)

pollen grains being hit by other pollen grains

b)

pollen grains being hit by water molecules

c)

water molecules being hit by other water molecules

d)

water molecules being hit by pollen grains

4.

A gas is contained in a sealed container in a laboratory. The temperature of the gas increases. What happens to the average speed and what happens to the total kinetic energy of the gas molecules?

a)

average speed does not change, total kinetic energy does not change

b)

average speed does not change, total kinetic energy increases

c)

average speed increases, total kinetic energy does not change

d)

average speed increases, total kinetic energy increases

5.

The same mass of a gas is trapped in four identical cylinders by a piston that can move. The diagrams show the samples of gas in different conditions of volume and temperature. Which list gives the pressure of the gas in order from lowest to highest?

a)

1 → 2 → 3 → 4

b)

1 → 3 → 2 → 4

c)

4 → 2 → 3 → 1

d)

4 → 3 → 2 → 1

6.

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 liquid freezes.

7.

A student calculates the energy needed to raise the temperature of an aluminium block from 50 °C to 60 °C. He then does an experiment to measure the energy used to do this. Which statement about the measured energy is correct?

a)

The measured energy will be greater than the calculated energy because some energy is

transferred to the surroundings.

b)

The measured energy will be greater than the calculated energy because the block absorbs

energy from the surroundings.

c)

The measured energy will be less than the calculated energy because the mass of the block

decreases as it gets warmer.

d)

The measured energy will be less than the calculated energy because the thermal capacity

of the block is low.

8.

Which statements correctly describes a liquid that is boiling

a)

no bubbles seen, takes place on the surface only

b)

no bubbles seen, takes place throughout the liquid

c)

bubbles seen, takes place on the surface only

d)

bubbles seen, takes place throughout the liquid

9.

Which statement about boiling and evaporation is correct?

a)

Boiling requires a supply of thermal energy but evaporation does not.

b)

Evaporation takes place at the surface of a liquid but boiling takes place throughout the

liquid.

c)

When water boils in a kettle, its temperature decreases.

d)

When water evaporates, its temperature increases.

10.

Why are small gaps left between the metal rails of a railway track?

a)

to allow for expansion of the rails on a hot day

b)

to allow for contraction of the rails on a hot day

c)

to allow for expansion of the rails on a cold day

d)

to allow for contraction of the rails on a cold day

11.

A block of metal absorbs 2000 J of thermal energy. The temperature of the block rises from 10 °C to 20 °C. The mass of the block is 2.0 kg. What is the specific heat capacity of the metal?

a)

50 J / (kg °C)

b)

100 J / (kg °C)

c)

200 J / (kg °C)

d)

400 J / (kg °C)

12.

A metal rod is heated at end X. Why does end Y of the metal rod become hot?

a)

Energy is transferred from end X of the rod to end Y by vibration of positive ions and by

movement of electrons.

b)

Energy is transferred from end X of the rod to end Y by movement of positive ions only.

c)

Energy is transferred from end X of the rod to end Y by vibration of positive ions only.

d)

Energy is transferred from end X of the rod to end Y by movement of electrons only.

13.

Two square sheets of metal, P and Q, are heated to the same temperature. The metal sheets are shown. Sheet Q is emitting more radiation than sheet P. Which statement explains this?

a)

Dull black surfaces are better conductors of radiation.

b)

Dull black surfaces are better emitters of radiation.

c)

The surface area of Q is larger than that of P.

d)

White surfaces are better absorbers of radiation.

14.

Three students are planning an experiment to test thermal conduction in different materials. The students each propose a hypothesis.

1 I think the copper rod will be a good thermal conductor because it is a metal.

2 I think the glass rod will be a good thermal conductor because it has free electrons which vibrate and transfer energy quickly.

3 I think the wooden rod will be a poor thermal conductor because it can only transfer energy along the rod by vibrating the lattice particles.

Which of their hypotheses are correct?

a)

1 and 2 only

b)

1 and 3 only

c)

2 and 3 only

d)

1, 2 and 3

15.
The diagram shows a block of ice placed in a warm room. At which point is the temperature the lowest?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
16.
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 stops at the top and so prevents convection. 
17.
How does heat from the Sun reach the Earth?
a)
conduction only
b)
convection only
c)
radiation only 
d)
conduction, convection and radiation
18.
A beaker contains water at room temperature. How could a convection current be set up in the water?
a)
cool the water at X 
b)
cool the water at Y
c)
stir the water at X
d)
stir the water at Y 
19.
Which statement refers to convection?
a)
It does not involve energy transfer.
b)
It is the transfer of heat energy without the movement of particles.
c)
It only occurs in liquids or gases.
d)
It only occurs in solids. 
20.
Spoons made of different materials were placed in four cups of coffee poured from the same jug. Which spoon will be hottest to touch at end X? 
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
21.
A heater is placed in a room.
Which diagram shows the movement of air as the room is heated? 
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
22.
The diagrams show four identical pieces of ice that are heated in test-tubes of water. In which test-tube will the ice take the longest time to melt? 
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
23.
A cup with a lid contains a hot drink.
When the lid is removed, the rate of heat loss from the drink increases. What causes this?
a)
convection only
b)
evaporation only
c)
both convection and evaporation
d)
neither convection nor evaporation
24.
A cupboard is placed in front of a heater. Air can move through a gap under the cupboard.

Which line in the table describes the temperature and the direction of the air that moves through the gap? 
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
25.
Two plastic cups are placed one inside the other. Hot water is poured into the inner cup and a lid is put on top as shown.

Which statement is correct? 
a)
Heat loss by radiation is prevented by the small air gap.
b)
No heat passes through the sides of either cup.
c)
The bench is heated by convection from the bottom of the outer cup.
d)
The lid is used to reduce heat loss by convection.
26.
A person holds a glass beaker in one hand and fills it quickly with hot water. It takes several seconds before his hand starts to feel the heat. Why is there this delay? 
a)
Glass is a poor conductor of heat. 
b)
Glass is a good conductor of heat. 
c)
Water is a poor conductor of heat.
d)
Water is a good conductor of heat. 
27.
An electric kettle contains a metal heating element.

What are the main processes by which heat energy is transferred from the element to the water, and throughout the water? 
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
28.

Which row shows the surface that is the better absorber and the surface that is the better emitter of infra-red radiation?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

29.

One end of a copper rod is heated. What is one method by which thermal energy is transferred in the copper rod?

a)

free electrons transfer energy from the cooler end to the hotter end

b)

free electrons transfer energy from the hotter end to the cooler end

c)

molecules of copper move from the cooler end to the hotter end

d)

molecules of copper move from the hotter end to the cooler end

30.

The same quantity of thermal energy is supplied to two solid objects A and Y. The temperature increase of object X is greater than the temperature increase of object Y. Which statement explains this?

a)

X has a lower melting point than Y

b)

X has a lower density than Y

c)

X has a lower thermal capacity than Y

d)

X is a better thermal conductor than Y