1

1 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.

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

[Total: 1]

2 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.
add a layer of insulation such as foam around the cardbox
suggestion 1 .............................................................................................................................

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

conduction
thermal transfer process ..........................................................................................................
put lid to cardbox
suggestion 2 .............................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 4]

3 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.
 2

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.

solar radiation
........................................................................................................................................... [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.

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

[Total: 2]
 3

4 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.

we will put all the objects we have with some wax or something that will melt then after than we
..................................................................................................................................................
will put them from the same distance from the heat, we will calculate the time and see which pin
..................................................................................................................................................
will fall first, and if x object walls first it is the best conductor among them , if y is last, it is poor
..................................................................................................................................................
conductor among them
..................................................................................................................................................

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

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

[Total: 3]

5 Some surfaces are better at emitting radiation than others.

 4

(a) Describe an experiment to show whether a black surface or a white surface is the better emitter
of radiation. You may draw a diagram.

we may use leslie's cube, which has different coloured sides as white , black and smth else
...........................................................................................................................................
then we will put metal cube filled with hot water into the leslie's cube, after some time we will
...........................................................................................................................................
measure each face by thermal radiation detector then, we will see, which face is best emitter
which face isn't
...........................................................................................................................................

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

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

(b) To ensure that the conclusion reached in the experiment in (a) is correct, several details of
the experiment must be identical when testing the two different surfaces.

State two quantities in the experiment that you described that must be identical during the
test.

thermal radiation detector should be from equal distance from all faces
1. .......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
surface area of the faces
2. .......................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 5]
 5

6 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]
 6

7 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]
 7

8 The diagram shows a road next to the sea.

On a sunny day, the Sun warms the road.

Describe how energy from the Sun reaches the Earth and warms the road.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]
 8

9 The diagram shows a road next to the sea on a sunny day.

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.

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

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

[Total: 1]
 9

10 The diagram shows a road next to the sea.

On a sunny day, the Sun warms the road.

The temperature of the road is greater than the temperature of the sea.

The air above the road is heated by the warm road.

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]

[Total: 3]
 10

11 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]

[Total: 3]
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12 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]

13 Give the name of the method of transfer of thermal energy in solid metals.

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

[Total: 1]

14 A metal container is used to cook food. The metal container has thick walls.

The metal container is spherical. The spherical container has a smaller surface area than a long,
thin container of the same volume.

Explain the advantage of using a spherical container.

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

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

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

[Total: 1]
 12

15 A metal container is used to cook food. The metal container has thick walls. Hot cooking oil at a
temperature of 120 °C is poured into the container.

The outside surface of the container gets hot. Some thermal energy passes through the metal
because vibrating atoms in the metal collide with neighbouring atoms and transfer energy to them.

Explain how the rest of the thermal energy is conducted through the metal container to the outside
surface by another process.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]

16 The diagram shows two metal plates A and B with a radiant heater placed midway between them.

Metal plate A is shiny. Metal plate B is dull black. A piece of cork is attached to each plate using
wax. The wax is a solid at room temperature and has a melting point of 37 °C.

State and explain what happens to the pieces of cork a few minutes after the heater is switched
on.

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

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

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

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

.................................................................................................................................................. [4]
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[Total: 4]

17 A metal container is used to cook food. The metal container has thick walls. Hot cooking oil at a
temperature of 120 °C is poured into the container.

The outside surface of the container is brightly polished and shiny.

Explain how this reduces the power that needs to be supplied to keep the oil at the correct
temperature.

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

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]

18 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]
 14

19 The diagram shows a car on a sunny day in a hot country.

The object labelled A is placed inside the windscreen. It is used by the owner of the car to reduce
the temperature rise of the air in the car.

Ring the most suitable material for the outer surface of object A. Explain your choice.

dull black dull white shiny black shiny white

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

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

[Total: 2]
 15

20 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]

21 A man goes for a walk on a cold day. He touches a metal gate, which removes thermal energy
from his hands.

Describe in terms of particles the transfer of thermal energy through the metal of the gate after
transfer from the man’s hands.

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

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

[Total: 2]

22 Two metal spheres of different diameters are heated to 900 °C in a hot oven. The two spheres are
removed from the oven.
 16

(a) State and explain any difference in the initial rates of emission of radiation of thermal energy
between the two spheres.

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

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

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

(b) 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.

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

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

[Total: 3]

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 throughout the water by .............................................. . [1]

[Total: 1]
 17

24 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]
 18

25 The diagram shows a cross-section of the inside of a vacuum flask containing a cold liquid. The
walls of the vacuum flask are made of glass.

Suggest a suitable material for the stopper.

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

[Total: 1]
 19

26 The diagram shows a cross-section of the inside of a vacuum flask containing a cold liquid. The
walls of the vacuum flask are made of glass.

The vacuum flask is being used to keep a liquid cool on a hot day.

Explain how the labelled features of the vacuum flask keep the liquid cool by reducing thermal
energy transfer. Include the names of the processes involved.

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

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

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

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

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

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

.................................................................................................................................................. [5]

[Total: 5]
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27 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]

28 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]
 21

[Total: 2]

29 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]

30 An electrical heater is placed on the floor of a room in a house. The heater is switched on.

State the main process by which thermal energy is transferred to the air in all parts of the room.

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

[Total: 1]

31 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]

32 An electrical heater is placed on the floor of a room in a house. The heater is switched on.

The 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).

(a) 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.

time = .............................................. [4]

 22

(b) State two reasons why the time calculated in (a) 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.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

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

2 ........................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 6]

33 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]
 23

34 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]

35 A student investigates the thermal energy lost from two metal cans, X and Y. The cans are identical
apart from their outside colour.

The student pours the same volume of hot water into each can and seals each can. The student
records the temperature of the water in each can at regular time intervals for a period of 35 minutes.

The equipment is shown in the diagram.

The results of the investigation are shown in the graph.

 24

(a) For can X, use the graph to determine the drop in temperature of the water

(i) in the first five minutes

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

(ii) in the last five minutes.

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

(b) Explain why the water cools at a greater rate during the first five minutes of the experiment,
compared with the last five minutes.

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

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

........................................................................................................................................... [2]
 25

(c) The outside of one can is dull black and the outside of the other is shiny white.

State the colour of can Y. ..................................................................................................

Explain your answer. ........................................................................................................

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

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

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

[Total: 6]

36 A beaker contains some water at room temperature. A student places a mercury-in-glass

thermometer in the water with the bulb of the thermometer just beneath the surface of the water.

The diagram shows the arrangement.

The student uses an electric fan to blow air across the open top of the beaker. She notices that the
reading on the thermometer begins to decrease.

The student places the thermometer near the bottom of the beaker. The electric fan continues to
blow air across the top of the beaker. After some time, the student observes that the temperature
of the water at the bottom of the beaker is decreasing.

State the name of the thermal transfer method causing this and explain what is happening in the
water.

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

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

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

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

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

37 A student wants to investigate good and bad absorbers of thermal radiation. She has the apparatus
shown in the diagram, a supply of cold water and a metre rule.

Explain how the student could use the apparatus she has available to carry out her investigation.
Describe the results she would expect to obtain. Draw a diagram of the set-up.

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

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

[Total: 4]
 27

38 A thermometer is used to measure the temperature inside a room in a house.

The graph shows how the temperature of the room changes between 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm.

A heater in the room is switched on at 6 pm. The room has a large window. A large amount of
thermal energy is transferred through the window. The window in the room has thick curtains.
Closing the curtains reduces the loss of thermal energy from the room.

(a) Suggest the time at which the heater is switched off.

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

(b) Suggest the time at which the curtains were closed and explain your answer. Use information
from the graph.

time ...................................................................................................................................

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

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

[Total: 3]

39 Explain why houses in hot countries are often painted white.

Use ideas about the transfer of thermal energy in your answer.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 3]
 28

40 As a star approaches the end of its life, the amount of radiation emitted from it per second changes.

The star cools down.

State any effect on the rate of emission of radiation.

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

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

[Total: 1]