1

1 A student designs a container to keep a hot liquid at a high temperature.

The container is shown in the diagram.

liquid

container
made of
cardboard

He finds that the liquid cools too quickly.

Suggest two improvements to the design of the container which reduce the transfer of thermal
energy from the hot liquid to its surroundings.
For each suggestion, state the thermal transfer process that it reduces.

suggestion 1 .............................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

thermal transfer process ..........................................................................................................

suggestion 2 .............................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

thermal transfer process .......................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 4]

2 A teacher fills a copper can with solid wax and heats the can. She measures the temperature of
the wax every minute. She continues heating once the wax has melted and stops heating when
the wax is boiling.

State the term used for the process that transfers thermal energy through the copper.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]
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3 The diagram shows a cross-section of a flask. The flask is used to keep a liquid hot. The flask has
two glass walls with a vacuum between them. The surfaces of the glass walls are shiny.

plastic cap

double-walled
glass container

hot liquid

vacuum

shiny surfaces

Explain how the shiny surfaces reduce the transfer of thermal energy from the hot liquid.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

4 The diagram shows a cross-section of a flask. The flask is used to keep a liquid hot. The flask has
two glass walls with a vacuum between them. The surfaces of the glass walls are shiny.

plastic cap

double-walled
glass container

hot liquid

vacuum

shiny surfaces

Explain how the vacuum reduces the transfer of thermal energy from the hot liquid.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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5 An engineer makes a device that absorbs thermal energy from the Sun. The absorbed energy heats
water.

In the device, cold water flows slowly from an upper tank, through a white plastic pipe, to a lower
tank. Energy from the Sun heats the water as it flows, as shown in the diagram.

upper
tank cold water
Sun

white plastic
pipe

lower
tank warm water

(a) State the name of the process that transfers thermal energy from the Sun to the white plastic
pipe.

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) State the name of the process that transfers thermal energy through the plastic wall of the pipe
to the water inside the pipe.

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 2]
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6 An engineer makes a device that absorbs thermal energy from the Sun. The absorbed energy heats
water.

In the device, cold water flows slowly from an upper tank, through a white plastic pipe, to a lower
tank. Energy from the Sun heats the water as it flows, as shown in the diagram.

upper
tank cold water
Sun

white plastic
pipe

lower
tank warm water

The engineer wants to increase the thermal energy absorbed by the water in the pipe.

Suggest two improvements he can make to increase the thermal energy absorbed.

In each case, explain why the suggestion increases the thermal energy absorbed.

improvement 1 .........................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

explanation ...............................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

improvement 2 .........................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

explanation ...............................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 4]
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7 A student places equal masses of water into two metal cans. The cans are identical apart from one
having a white outer surface and the other having a black outer surface.

The student places the two cans in direct sunlight. The temperature of the water increases in both
cans. After 10 minutes, the temperature increase is greater in one of the cans.

State and explain which can has the greater increase in temperature.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

8 State the name for the transfer of thermal energy through a metal.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

9 A metal can contains some water. The metal can is heated as shown in the diagram.

water
movement
of water metal can

heat

Describe how thermal energy causes the movement of water shown in the diagram.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]
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[Total: 3]

10 A student has four rods of identical size. The rods are made of copper, brass, iron and glass.

Describe an experiment to compare thermal conduction along the rods.

You may draw a labelled diagram to help with your answer.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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11 The diagram shows equipment used to demonstrate convection in air. A burning candle is placed
beneath glass tube A.

The arrows in the diagram show the directions in which air moves.

Explain why the air moves as shown in the diagram.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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12 The diagram shows an electric kettle containing cold water.

The metal heating element heats the water.

Explain how thermal energy from the heating element is transferred to all the water in the kettle.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [4]

[Total: 4]

13 The diagram shows two similar metal cans. The only difference is the surface. Can A has a dull
black surface and can B has a shiny white surface.
 9

(a) A student fills each can with hot water. The initial temperature of the water is 85 °C.

The student records the temperature of the water in each can every 30 seconds for 10 minutes.

Suggest which can of water will cool more quickly. Give a reason for your answer.

suggestion ........................................................................................................................

reason ...............................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Suggest and explain two changes to can B that reduce thermal energy loss to the surroundings.

change 1............................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

change 2 ...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [4]

[Total: 6]
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14 The diagram shows a hot liquid in a vacuum flask. The vacuum flask keeps the temperature of the
liquid in the flask constant for a long time.

Suggest a material for the stopper that will help to keep the liquid hot for longer.

Give a reason for your answer.

material.....................................................................................................................................

reason.......................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]

15 A student is testing how different 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 the 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.

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(a) 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.

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

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Another student observes the experiment shown in the diagram and says that the comparison
of the two plates is not fair.

Suggest why the experiment is not fair.

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [2]

[Total: 4]
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16 The diagram shows a hot liquid in a vacuum flask. The vacuum flask keeps the temperature of the
liquid in the flask constant for a long time.

Describe how the shiny silver surface helps to keep the liquid hot for longer.

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 2]
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17 The diagram shows a hot liquid in a vacuum flask. The vacuum flask keeps the temperature of the
liquid in the flask constant for a long time.

Describe how the vacuum between the silvered surfaces helps to keep the liquid hot for longer.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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18 A student heats some water in a metal can, as shown in the diagram.

Describe how thermal energy is transferred throughout the water. Include your ideas about density
changes.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]
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19 A student heats some water in a metal can, as shown in the diagram.

Complete the sentence. Choose a word from the box.

conduction convection radiation

Thermal (heat) energy moves through the metal can by ............................................ .

[1]

[Total: 1]
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20 The diagram shows a metal pan containing water being heated by an electrical heater.

Complete the sentence to describe how thermal energy is transferred.

Thermal energy is transferred from the electrical heater to the bottom of the pan by

......................................................... . [1]

[Total: 1]

21 The diagram shows a metal pan containing water being heated by an electrical heater.

Complete the sentence to describe how thermal energy is transferred.

Thermal energy is transferred throughout the water by .............................................. . [1]

[Total: 1]

22 A student carries out an experiment to determine which surface is the better emitter of thermal
energy. She uses two similar metal containers. One of the containers has a dull black surface. The
other has a shiny white surface. The diagram shows the metal containers on a bench.
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(a) Suggest a procedure for her experiment. You may add to the diagram to assist with your
explanation.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [3]

(b) Predict the result of the experiment described in (a).

...........................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

[Total: 4]
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23 The diagram shows a metal pan containing water being heated by an electrical heater.

Complete the sentence to describe how thermal energy is transferred.

Thermal energy is transferred through the bottom of the metal pan by

......................................................... .

[1]

[Total: 1]
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24 The diagram shows the inside of an electric oven. The diagram shows a side view of the oven.

The heater is switched on.

Explain how thermal energy moves throughout the oven by convection. Use your ideas about
density and expansion.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

25 The diagram shows the inside of an electric oven. The diagram shows a side view of the oven.

The heater is switched on.

On the diagram, draw two arrows to show how thermal energy moves throughout the oven by
convection. [2]
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[Total: 2]

26 An oven is in a kitchen that is fitted with a smoke detector.

Warm, moving air can carry smoke particles.

Suggest the best position for the smoke detector in the kitchen.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]

27 Use a word from the box to complete the sentence.

conduction expansion insulation radiation

Thermal energy travels at the speed of light by .......................................................... . [1]

[Total: 1]

28 Some materials are good conductors of thermal energy.

Draw a ring around each material that is a good conductor of thermal energy.

air aluminium copper glass plastic water

[1]

[Total: 1]
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29 A student has two rods made of different materials. The rods are the same size.

Describe an experiment to identify which material is the better conductor of thermal energy.

You may draw a diagram in the space below.

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................. [3]

[Total: 3]

30 Some materials are poor conductors of thermal energy (heat energy).

State the term that describes materials that are poor conductors of thermal energy.

.................................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 1]