Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises
Chapter 1
Temperature and Heat Transfer
Checkpoint
Checkpoint 1 (p. 9)
1. (a) No.
The resistance of the element does not vary
with temperature.
(b) Yes.
The resistance of the element varies with
temperature and each resistance value
corresponds to a unique temperature.
(c) Yes.
The resistance of the element varies with
temperature and each resistance value
corresponds to a unique temperature.
(d) It depends.
The resistance varies with temperature, but
within a certain range, one resistance value
corresponds to several temperatures. The
element is suitable to measure a range of
temperatures between the turning points in
the graph, but is not suitable otherwise.
2. The ice point (0 ◦ C) and the steam point (100 ◦ C) are
chosen for the ixed points on the Celsius scale.
3. C Suppose the length of the air column at 0 ◦ C is
ℓ0 , and the length of the air column at 60 ◦ C is ℓ.
ℓ − ℓ0 60
=
3 − ℓ0 30
ℓ = 6 − ℓ0
< 6 cm
4. The calibration curve is as shown below.
From the graph, we have
ℓ−5 20
=
25 − 5 100
ℓ = 9 cm
So, the length of the column at 20 ◦ C = 9 cm .
Checkpoint 2 (p. 19)
1. (a) A The internal energy of water increases with
temperature. So, energy lows into the water.
(b) A The average molecular KE of water
increases with temperature. So, the water
molecules move faster on average.
(c) A When the water temperature increases, the
average molecular KE of the water increases.
2. (a) T The higher the temperature, the higher the
average KE of the molecules, and hence the
higher their average speed.
(b) F Heat always lows from high temperature
to low temperature.
(c) F Heat low between two bodies stops when
two bodies have the same temperature, not
internal energy.
3. B In this case, the temperature of the apple
is higher than the refrigerator. So, energy is
transferred from the apple to the refrigerator.
Energy can be transferred from one object to another, but
temperature cannot. Temperature is a measure of degree of
hotness. It only reflects the average molecular KE of an object. A
drop of temperature means that the molecules of the object have
less and less KE on average.
4. (a) The pot has coffee of more total molecular
KE because it contains more coffee molecules.
(b) The pot and the cup have coffee of the same
average molecular KE because they have the
same temperature.
5. (a) The boiling coffee has more average molecular
KE because its temperature is higher.
2| Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Checkpoint
(b) The boiling coffee has more total molecular
KE because its temperature is higher.
The total molecular KE of an object depends on both the
temperature and the mass of the object, while the average
molecular KE of an object only depends on the temperature of
the object.
Checkpoint 3 (p. 24)
1. (a) T When air is heated, it expands and becomes
less dense.
(b) F A sea breeze is formed when cool air lows
from the sea to the land to take the place of the
warm air.
2. (a) T Convection only occurs in luids. It cannot
occur in a vacuum.
(b) F Convection only occurs in liquids and gases.
It cannot occur in solids.
(c) T Heat is transferred from one place to
another through the convection current of a
luid.
3. During a ire, smoke is carried upwards by the
convection current of air. Installing smoke detectors
on the ceiling can detect smoke more effectively
than on the loor.
4. If the heating element in a kettle is in the middle
instead of at the bottom, water below the heating
element cannot be heated up effectively by
convection. As a result, heating up the water takes
much longer.
5. Due to convection, smoke rises with hot air.
People should crawl across the loor to avoid being
suffocated by smoke.
Checkpoint 4 (p. 30)
1. (a) F Conduction occurs inside a body or
between two bodies that are in contact.
(b) F Some electrons are bound by the atoms.
Only electrons in the outermost shell of atoms
may become free electrons.
(c) F An insulator conducts heat very slowly.
(d) T Both conduction and convection cannot
occur in a vacuum.
(e) F Conduction does occur in luids, but does
not transfer heat as effective as convection.
Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises
2. The meat is cut into thin slices to increase the area
for heat transfer by conduction. Since metal is a
good conductor, the long metal skewer facilitate the
heat transfer to the meat.
3. If you hold your ingers above the lame, heat is
transferred effectively to your ingers by convection
and so you get harm.
If you hold your ingers beside the lame, very little
heat lows sideways because air is a poor conductor.
4. Metal is a good conductor but wood is a poor one.
When we touch them, metal conducts heat more
quickly than wood from our body. So the metallic
doorknob often feels cooler.
5. Mud is a good insulator. Thick mud walls can reduce
heat lowing into the house in the daytime and
reduce heat losing from the house in the night-time.
So, the temperature inside the house would not be
too high or too low.
Checkpoint 5 (p. 36)
1. C Among conduction, convection and radiation,
only radiation can transfer heat in a vacuum.
2. (a) All of them absorb and emit infrared radiation.
(b) Net absorber: meat, Wilson’s hand
Net emitter: hot pan
3. Can A .
The larger the temperature difference, the higher
the emission rate of heat radiation.
4. The shiny blankets are poor emitters of radiation. It
helps reduce the heat loss from the runners through
radiation.
Checkpoint 6 (p. 39)
1. (a) F The thick egg white helps reduce the rate of
heat transfer by conduction.
(b) T White coloured layer is a poor emitter of
radiation.
(c) T Air is a poor conductor. Trapped air in the
sponge-cake base can effectively slow down
the heat transfer by conduction.
2. The features are as follows:
• The tank is painted white because white
surface is a poor absorber of radiation.
Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Exercise |3

• The tank is raised above the ground to reduce

the rate of heat conduction from the ground.

(Accept other reasonable answers.)

3. (a) Hot air is trapped inside. It cannot mix with

the cool air outside. This prevents cooling by
convection.
(b) Shiny sunshields can reduce the rate of heat
in low through radiation by re lecting the
sunlight away.

4. A vacuum lask reduces the heat transfer between

the contents and the environment greatly, without
3. Let ℓ be the length of the column at temperature T .
knowing whether the content is hot or cold. That
By proportion,
means the lask can slow down the heat in low if the
water is hot and reduce the heat loss if the water is ℓ−5 T −0
=
cold. 15 − 5 100 − 0

(a) At T = −8 ◦ C,

Exercise ℓ−5
=
−8 − 0
15 − 5 100 − 0
Exercise 1.1 (p. 11) ℓ= 4.2 cm

1. (a) See the graph below. (b) At T = 115 ◦ C,

ℓ−5 115 − 0
=
15 − 5 100 − 0
ℓ= 16.5 cm

4. Compared with normal Celsius scale, the reading

scale of the thermometer is shifted upwards by 9 ◦ C.
So the actual water temperature is T = 30−9 = 30 ◦ C
.

5. By proportion, when the current is 28 mA, the lame

temperature T is given by

T − 495 28 − 30.6
=
750 − 495 55 − 30.6
T = 467.8 ≈ 468 ◦ C

(b) (i) When ℓ = 16 cm, T =
◦
(ii) When T = 24 C, ℓ = 14 cm
2. (a) (i) When T = 26 ◦ C, h =
◦
(ii) When T = 31 C, h =
(iii) When T = 37 ◦ C, h =
(iv) When T = 48 ◦ C, h =
(b) See the graph below.
32 ◦ C . 6. (a) The thermistor is most sensitive in the range
. of AB because it changes its resistance most
rapidly in the range of 0 to 25 ◦ C.
1.7 cm .
A thermometer is said to be sensitive if its
3 cm .
temperature-dependent property changes to a large extent
4.9 cm . with a small change in temperature.
10 cm .
(b) From the graph, at T = 40 ◦ C, the resistance of
the thermistor is R = 120 Ω .

7. (a) The outer side of the strip expands more when

heated because the pointer in the diagram
rotates clockwise as temperature rises.
4| Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Exercise Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises

(b) Let T be the required temperature.

T − (−10) 75◦
=
110 − (−10) 300◦
T= 20 ◦ C

8. (a) In Fahrenheit scale, the temperature equiv-

alent to 50 ◦ C is the mid-point between the
ice point and the steam point. So the required Thermometer Q has a greater slope.
temperature is
Exercise 1.2 (p. 19)
212 + 32
TF = = 122 ◦ F
2
1. (a) Temperature
(b) Room B is hotter.
(b) Internal energy
Between ice point and steam point, there are 100
(c) Heat
divisions in Celsius scale and 180 sections in Fahrenheit
scale. Rising 1 ◦ C brings more hotness than rising 1 ◦ F. 2. (a) T Same temperature, same average molecu-
lar KE .
9. (a) When TC = 0, TF = 32. So b = 32 .
When TC = 100, TF = 212. So (b) F Heat is not the energy stored in a body. It
is the energy flow between two bodies due to a
212 = 100a + 32 temperature difference.
a= 1.8 (c) F The two glasses of water may have different
mass and hence different total molecular KE .
(b) (i) From (a), TF = 1.8TC + 32. So
(d) F The two glasses of water may have different
total molecular KE , hence different internal
100 = 1.8TC + 32
energies.
TC = 37.8 ◦ C
3. (a) No.
(ii) Substituting TF = −4 ◦ F, Both have the same temperature.
(b) Yes, from your hand to the ice cream.
−4 = 1.8TC + 32
Human body is hotter than the ice cream.
TC = −20 ◦ C
(c) Yes, from the steam to the ice.
(iii) Substituting TF = 911 ◦ F, (d) Yes, from the freezer to the meat.
Heat always flows from high temperature to low temperature,
911 = 1.8TC + 32
no matter the amount of internal energy the objects store.
TC = 488 ◦ C
4. (a) The cup of coffee has a higher average molecu-
10. (a) Position C lar KE because it has a higher temperature.
When the temperature increases from 0 ◦ C (b) The average molecular KE of the coffee
to the room temperature, the liquids in P decreases as the coffee temperature drops.
and Q both expand their volumes in the same The average molecular PE of the coffee remains
proportion. As Q contains more liquid than P unchanged as the coffee remains in liquid state.
while both have the same tube diameter, the The internal energy of the coffee decreases as
liquid column in Q is longer. the coffee becomes colder without changing its
(b) Thermometer Q mass or state.
The larger bulb of Q increases the surface (c) No.
area for heat transfer. As a result, it is more Heat low stops when two bodies in thermal
sensitive to temperature change. contact have the same temperature, i.e. when
(c) See the calibration curves below. they have the same average molecular KE .
Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Exercise |5

5. (a) The table and chair have the same temperature

as the surrounding air because they are in
thermal equilibrium.
(b) None of them
(c) Peter has a higher temperature than the
surrounding air.
Human body is a heat source with a constant
Only the water near the heater is heated up and rises. The
temperature (about 37 ◦ C).
water at the same level but away from the heater probably moves
in to replace the hot water.
Exercise 1.3 (p. 40)
6. (a) Yes.
1. (a) T A substance containing a lot of free Air is a good insulator of heat. The air just
electrons is a good conductor of heat. above the freezers slows down the heat
transfer from the surroundings to the frozen
(b) F Air is a poor conductor of heat.
food.
(c) F Heat cannot be transferred by conduction
(b) Yes.
in a vacuum.
As cold air released by the freezers sinks, the
2. (a) Conduction, convection hot air above the opening cannot reach the
(b) Conduction, radiation frozen food by convection.

(c) Radiation (c) No.

(d) Convection
3. C Heat from the camp ire is irst transferred to the
left side of the brick wall by radiation, then to the
right side of the wall by conduction, and inally to
Peter by radiation.
In this case, heat transfer by convection is not the main
process between the objects, as all of them are at the same level.
4. B Heat from the lame is irst transferred to the
lower side of the copper sheet by convection of air
and radiation from the lame. Then, it is transferred
to the upper side of the sheet by conduction. Finally,
it is transferred to the thermometer by convection
of air and radiation from the upper side of the sheet.
5. (a) See the igure below.
The food is colder than the surrounding air.
There is no natural heat low from the food to
the surrounding air.
7. The aluminium layer in the pan transfers heat from
the lame to the whole pan surface more effectively.
So, the food to be cooked is heated faster and more
evenly.
8. The glowing air below the wire frame gives out
energy readily to the wire frame by conduction. So,
the air above the frame is not hot enough to glow.
9. (a) Graph (3) suits the black cube most.
(b) Graph (2) suits the polished cube most.
Both the black and polished cubes (at 125 ◦ C) will gradually
cool down. As black surfaces emit radiation better, the black cube
cools down faster.

10. During operation, the air heated up by the coil

is more likely to rise and leave the coil through
the side vents. The unheated air is likely to move
towards the coil through the bottom vents.

(b) See the igure below.

6| Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Chapter Exercise
Therefore, the fan should create an outward air low
from the bottom vents.
To cool down the coil effectively, the fan should strengthen
the natural convection current around the coil.
11. (a) The air heated up by the bulb can leave the
light shade through the slots. It can prevent the
light bulb from overheating.
(b) Due to convection, the warm air inside the
igloo rises. So, the tunnel can prevent the
out low of heat by convection. At the same
time, the cool air in the tunnel cannot enter
the igloo due to convection.
12. (a) Plastic is a good insulator of heat. Heat is not
readily conducted from the hot metal plate to
the plastic handle.
(b) Air conducts heat poorly while metal conducts
heat well. At the same temperature, human
body does not absorb heat from the hot air as
effective as from the hot metal by conduction.
13. (a) The light-coloured surface reduces heat
loss from the hot balloon by radiation. This
helps maintain the temperature of the hot
air in the balloon and hence reduce the fuel
consumption.
(b) The shiny metal foil wrapped on the telescope
reduces the absorption or emission of heat by
radiation. This helps maintain the temperature
of the telescope within a suitable range.
14. (a) The procedures are sequenced as:
(1), (3), (4), (2)
Procedure (3) should be done before (4) to ensure
that all the rods are heated up together at the same
moment.
(b) The rods should have the same diame-
ter/dimensions/shape.
(c) The better the rod conducts heat, the faster
the energy from the hot water is conducted
along the rod, and the more wax is melted in 5
minutes.
Therefore, the copper rod melts the wax the
most while the wooden one melts the least.
In descending order of conductivity, the materials are
copper, aluminium, iron, lead and wood.
15. (a) The procedures are sequenced as:
(2), (4), (1), (3)
Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises
(b) The plates should have the same thickness and
surface area.
(c) Dull black plate.
It is because the cork on the dull black tin plate
falls off faster, which means the dull plate heats
up faster and melts the wax faster.
16. (a) (i) Heat is transferred to the interior of the
chicken wing by conduction via the metal
fork.
Metal conducts heat better than flesh. If heat can
only be conducted from the exterior to the interior of
the chicken wing, the heating process will be much
slower.
(ii) Wood slows down the rate of heat
conduction. The user can hold the fork
without getting burnt.
(b) Heat is readily carried to the position over the
ire through convection.
(c) It reduces the heat absorbed by the sweet
potatoes by radiation. This prevents the food
from being charred.
17. (a) (1) BC represents the result of step 1.
(2) C D represents the result of step 2.
(3) DE represents the result of step 3.
(b) Yes.
If convection and ventilation is blocked,
heat released by the trapped air cannot be
transferred away. So the temperature in the
greenhouse increases gradually.
Chapter Exercise
Multiple-choice Questions (p. 45)
1. D By proportion, the temperature T of the water is
given by
T −0 100 − 0
=
5 − 2.5 15 − 2.5
T ≈ 20 ◦ C
2. C Option A is incorrect. Temperature is a measure
of degree of hotness of an object.
Option B is incorrect. Temperature is a measure of
the average molecular KE of the object.
Option C is correct. As the molecules move faster or
vibrate more vigorously, their average KE increases
and so is the temperature of the object.
Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises
Option D is incorrect. The molecular PE of the
object re lects the state of the object, not the
temperature.
3. B Options A and D are both incorrect. Oxygen
molecules do not expand or contract when heated.
Option C is incorrect because the oxygen molecules
cannot move further apart within a rigid sealed
vessel.
4. C Options A and D cannot be deduced because the
relative sizes between TY and T Z are unknown. We
can only deduce T X < TY and T X < T Z from the given
information.
Option B is incorrect. It is impossible for T X to be
higher than the average of TY and T Z .
Option C is correct because heat always lows from
higher temperature to lower temperature.
5. D After few hours, the cold lemon juice is likely to
be warmed to the room temperature. Similarly, the
hot potato is likely to be cooled down to the room
temperature.
However, the dog has a fairly constant body
temperature which can be different from the room
temperature.
Thus only the lemon juice and potato satisfy the
conditions.
Objects colder than the environment have a net absorption of
radiation. Conversely, objects hotter than the environment have a
net emission of radiation.
6. B The fan only produces an air low. It functions
neither as an energy source to transfer energy to the
heat sink, or a cooling bath to cool down the air.
7. D A stopper can reduce the heat loss by convection
of hot air from the lask to the air above, and a
vacuum can reduce the heat loss by conduction
through the wall of the lask.
8. B Water can still boil in space, but the vapour does
not rise. So convection does not take place. But heat
still transfers from hot water to cold water through
conduction and radiation. So only (2) is correct.
9. A Option A is correct. As the red-hot iron ball
touches the nearby air, the ball must lose energy
by conduction.
Option B is incorrect. As air conducts heat poorly,
the ball does not lose energy mainly by conduction.
Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Chapter Exercise |7
Option C is incorrect. If the ball is painted black, the
black surface emits radiation more readily.
Option D is incorrect. An object always emits
infrared radiation when its temperature is higher
than the absolute zero.
10. C To heat up the content (the pot), the solar cooker
should collect solar radiation as much as possible. If
case R is made of metal, the cooker will lose energy
to the surroundings more readily.
Structured Questions (p. 46)
11. (a) Immerse the whole gas column into the water
bath. (1A)
Stir the water bath gently. (1A)
(b) (i) See the graph below.
Correct data points and straight line: 1A
From the graph, when ℓ is 76 mm, the
temperature indicated ≈ 78 ◦ C . (1A)
(ii) Extend the line to intercept the T axis: 1A
From the graph, the absolute zero T0 ≈
−278 ◦ C . (1A)
12. (a) The rack cools down the air at the top of the
container. When the colder and denser air
sinks, the warmer and less dense air around
the food rises at the same time. (1A)
Placing the rack at the top can facilitate the
heat loss from the food by convection of the
air. (1A)
(b) (i) Aluminium foil is a good re lector of
radiation. (1A)
It slows down the heat gain of the freezer
from the surroundings by radiation. (1A)
(ii) Cotton wool is good insulator of heat. (1A)
It slows down heat lowing into the freezer
from the surroundings by conduction. (1A)
8| Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Chapter Exercise Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises

13. (a) The better heat conductor the rod is made The blackened wall absorbs radiation more
of, the quicker it conducts heat to the waxed rapidly. (1A)

end. (1A) (c) Conduction (1A)

The pin on the rod that conducts heat better (d) When the air between the blackened surface
falls irst. (1A)
and the double-glazing window is heated up, it
(b) The rods should have the same diameter and becomes warmer and less dense. (1A)

length. (1A) The warmer air rises and the cooler air lows
(c) Energy is transferred only between molecules to take its place. (1A)

in glass but mainly between free electrons and Hence a convection current is formed. (1A)

ions in copper. (1A) (e) Air is a good insulator of heat. (1A)

As energy transfer between free electrons and The trapped air reduces heat loss from the
ions is more rapid, the copper rod conducts room when the temperature rises. (1A)

heat faster and the wax on the copper rod

17. (a) (i) Radiation (1A)
melts irst. Therefore the pin ixed on that rod
(ii) Black coal absorbs heat by radiation more
drops earlier. (1A)
readily. (1A)

14. (a) The liquid-in-glass thermometer and the heat Energy can hence be transferred from the
sink are in poor thermal contact. (1A) coal to the snow at a higher rate. (1A)

It cannot show the instant temperature of the (b) (i) See the diagram below.
heat sinks. (1A)

(b) After switched off, the hotplate is still hotter

than the heat sinks. Energy is still being
transferred from the hotplate to the heat sinks
by conduction. (1A)

(c) Heat sink A (1A)

Its temperature drops more quickly between Upward arrow centrally under the cloud: 1A
t = t 2 and t = t 3 . (1A) Pairs of downward arrows at the left and right
(d) (1) Paint the heat sinks black. (1A)
sides of upward arrow: 1A

(2) Make more ins on the heat sinks to (ii) Heat is transferred from the Earth surface
increase the area in contact with air. (1A)
to the air. (1A)

The air near the Earth surface becomes

(Accept other reasonable answers.)
hotter and less dense. (1A)

15. (a) As the metal atoms at the spoon’s lower end The hot air near the Earth surface rises
touch the cold water, they vibrate less rapidly and the cold air near the cloud sinks. (1A)

than those at the upper end. (1A) Hence convection currents are formed.
They gain energy from the metal atoms at the (iii) Liquids, gases (1A)

hotter upper end through collisions, (1A)

18. (a) (i) Radiation (1A)
and in turn slow down those at the hotter
end. (1A)
(ii) Convection (1A)

(iii) The wasted heat makes the surrounding

(b) Metal is a better conductor of heat. Energy is
air hotter. (1A)
transferred from the metal spoon to the iced
The heated air expands and rises. (1A)
tea more readily than the plastic straw. (1A)
So, the wasted heat is carried away by
The metal spoon feels cooler as it carries heat away convection current. (1A)
from the hand more readily due to conduction.
(b) (i) Plastic is a good insulator of heat. (1A)

16. (a) Radiation (1A) Plastic does not conduct electricity. (1A)

Only radiation can transfer heat through a (ii) Shiny inner lining reflects radiation back to
vacuum. (1A) the bread. (1A)

(b) Black surface is good absorber of radiation. (1A)

It prevents the outer case from getting
hot. (1A)
Active Physics Full Solutions to Textbook Exercises Chapter 1 Temperature and Heat Transfer Chapter Exercise |9

(iii) Air is a good insulator of heat.
The small space of air pockets prevents
convection.
19. (a) The air trapped by the blanket is a good
insulator of heat. (1A)
(1A) Correct axes with labels: 1A
Correct data points: 1A
(2A) A best- it straight line: 1A
From the graph, M and log t are linearly
related. M decreases as log t increases.

The ibres of the blanket are also a good (b) From the graph, log t ≈ 3.85 when M = 4. (1A)

insulator of heat. (1A) So, the temperature of the star is

As the blanket traps the air, convection be-
tween the student’s body and the surrounding t = 103.85 = 7080 ◦ C (1A)

is reduced. (1A)

Also, sweat produced by the student cannot Shoot-the-stars Questions (p. 49)
evaporate and the cooling effect from sweating
is reduced. (1A)
1. (a) From temperature T to T2 . (1A)

(b) Yes. Aluminium foil is a poor absorber/emitter Since the density of the liquid drops in this
of radiation. range, by ρ = m
V , the volume V increases as
(1A)

OR: No. density ρ decreases when the mass m is a

Aluminium foil is a good conductor of heat. (1A)
constant. (1A)

(b) No. (1A)

20. (1) Put the candle at one side of the glass and light
Liquid L have the same density (and hence the
up the candle. (1A)
same height of liquid column) at two different
(2) Put the lighted joss stick at the mouth of the
temperatures. (1A)
other side of the glass. (1A)
(c) As h1 increases, A ’s volume increases while
(3) Observe the movement of the smoke, which
its density decreases. So, we can deduce that
demonstrates the convection current of air. (1A)
T <θ1 <T2 . (1A)
(4) The smoke from the joss stick sinks, lows
As h2 decreases, B ’s volume decreases while
through the bottom of the separator and inally
its density increases. So, we can deduce that
rises on the side with the candle. (1A)
T1 <θ2 <T .
Effective communication: 1A
(d) When A and B are put in contact, both h1 and
21. (a) The table below shows the relation between h 2 decrease immediately. (1A)

log t and M . From (c), we know that A is hotter than T

while B is colder than T . When A and B are
log t M
in contact, the densities of the liquids in
3.477 7.7 S 1 and S 2 increase according to the graph.
Therefore, we can deduce that h1 and h2
3.699 5.5
decrease immediately. (1A)
3.903 3.5
2. (a) Human body has a temperature higher than
4.000 2.5
background objects. (1A)

Human body emits more infrared radiation

than the background and the sensors are thus
triggered. (1A)

(b) Aluminium foil (1A)

As a poor radiator of heat, it can shield the

infrared radiation from John. (1A)