1 Solids, liquids and gases

The following sub-topics are covered in this section.

(a) Units
(b) Density and pressure
(c) Change of state
(d) Ideal gas molecules

(a) Units Important Points to Remember Confidence

5.1 use the following units: degree Celsius 5.1 Exam Questions Notes
(°C), Kelvin (K), joule (J), kilogram (kg),
kilogram/metre3 (kg/m3), metre (m), 5.1 Mark Scheme
metre2 (m2), metre3 (m3), metre/second
(m/s), metre/second2 (m/s2), newton (N)
and pascal (Pa)
5.2 use the following unit: joules/kilogram Notes
degree Celsius (J/kg °C)
(b) Density and pressure
5.3 know and use the relationship between 5.3 Exam Questions Notes
density, mass and volume:
density = mass ÷ volume 5.3 Mark Scheme
ρ=m
V
5.4 Practical: investigate density using direct 5.4 Exam Questions Notes
measurements of mass and volume 5.4 Mark Scheme
5.5 know and use the relationship between 5.5 Exam Questions Notes
pressure, force and area:
pressure = force ÷ area 5.5 Mark Scheme
p=F
A
5.6 understand how the pressure at a point in 5.6 Exam Questions Notes
a gas or liquid at rest acts equally in all
directions
5.6 Mark Scheme
5.7 know and use the relationship for pressure 5.7 Exam Questions Notes
difference:
pressure difference = height × 5.7 Mark Scheme
density × gravitational field strength
p=h×ρ×g
(c) Change of state
5.8P explain why heating a system will Notes
change the energy stored within the
system and raise its temperature or
produce changes of state

5.9P describe the changes that occur when 5.9 Exam Questions Notes
a solid melts to form a liquid, and 5.9 Mark Scheme
when a liquid evaporates or boils to
5.9a Exam Questions
form a gas
5.9a Mark Scheme
5.10P describe the arrangement and motion 5.10 Exam Questions Notes
of particles in solids, liquids and 5.10 Mark Scheme
gases
5.10a Exam Questions
5.10a Mark Scheme
5.11P Practical: obtain a temperature–time Notes
graph to show the constant
temperature during a change of state
5.12P know that specific heat capacity is the Questions Notes
energy required to change the Mark Scheme
temperature of an object by one
degree Celsius per kilogram of mass
(J/kg °C)
5.13P use the equation: See 5.12 Notes
change in thermal energy =
mass × specific heat capacity ×
change in temperature
 ΔQ = m × c × ΔT
5.14P Practical: investigate the specific heat Notes
capacity of materials including water
and some solids

(d) Ideal gas molecules

5.15 explain how molecules in a gas have 5.15 Exam Questions Notes
random motion and that they exert a force
and hence a pressure on the walls of a
5.15 Mark Scheme
container

5.16 understand why there is an absolute zero 5.16 Exam Questions Notes
of temperature which is –273 °C
5.16 Mark Scheme

5.17 describe the Kelvin scale of temperature 5.17 Exam Questions Notes
and be able to convert between the Kelvin
and Celsius scales 5.17 Mark Scheme
5.18 understand why an increase in 5.18 Exam Questions Notes
temperature results in an increase in the
average speed of gas molecules 5.18 Mark Scheme
5.19 know that the Kelvin temperature of a gas Notes
is proportional to the average kinetic
energy of its molecules

5.20 explain, for a fixed amount of gas, the 5.20 Exam Questions Notes
qualitative relationship between:
● pressure and volume at constant 5.20 Mark Scheme
temperature
● pressure and Kelvin temperature at
constant volume
5.21 use the relationship between the pressure Notes
and Kelvin temperature of a fixed mass of
gas at constant volume:
p1 = p2
T1 T2
5.22 use the relationship between the pressure Notes
and volume of a fixed mass of gas at
constant temperature:
p1V1 = p2V2