Thermal properties and temperature

The table shows the melting points and boiling points for four substances of different kinds. At $0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, which substance is in the liquid state?

Feb/March 2016

Which measured quantity determines the thermal capacity of a solid object?

Feb/March 2016

To set out a temperature scale on a thermometer, standard temperatures called fixed points are required. Which one of the following is a fixed point on the Celsius scale?

Feb/March 2016

The diagram illustrates electricity cables being installed on a warm day. As shown, the cables are hung with slack between the poles. Why are the cables hung with slack?

Feb/March 2016

Which quantity determines the thermal capacity of a solid object?

Feb/March 2016

To set out a temperature scale on a thermometer, standard temperatures known as fixed points are required. Which of these is a fixed point on the Celsius scale?

Feb/March 2016

Which statement gives the definition of the thermal capacity (heat capacity) of a solid body?

Feb/March 2017

At $-39\,^\circ\text{C}$, liquid mercury freezes while its temperature remains unchanged. Which row shows whether the mercury takes in or gives out energy and what happens to the bonds between the mercury atoms?

Feb/March 2017

A model thermometer is made from a flask containing coloured water and a stopper through which a glass tube is fitted, as illustrated. The model thermometer may be altered in one of two ways. • The flask may be swapped for a bigger one filled with coloured water. • The glass tube may be swapped for another tube with a wider internal diameter. Which statement is correct?

Feb/March 2017

A metal has a specific heat capacity of $360\,\text{J (kg }^\circ\text{C)}^{-1}$. An object made from this metal has a mass of $2.0\,\text{kg}$. What is the object's thermal capacity (heat capacity)?

Feb/March 2017

Which quantity remains unchanged when the temperature increases?

Feb/March 2018

A thermometer has a low thermal capacity. Why does this give it an advantage?

Feb/March 2018

During an experiment, a thermometer is put into a test-tube containing hot liquid. The liquid's temperature is noted every half minute. The table presents the results. What temperature is the substance's melting point?

Feb/March 2018

Which quantity remains unchanged when temperature rises?

Feb/March 2018

A thermocouple is employed to measure temperature. What is one advantage of choosing a thermocouple rather than a liquid-in-glass thermometer?

Feb/March 2018

A copper block has a mass of $2.0\,\text{kg}$. It absorbs $12\,000\,\text{J}$ of thermal energy. The specific heat capacity of copper is $385\,\text{J}\,\text{kg}^{-1}\,^{\circ}\text{C}^{-1}$. What temperature increase does the copper experience?

Feb/March 2018

On a cold day, a metal measuring tape marked in millimetres is used to find the separation between two fence posts. The reading on the tape is $3.000\,\text{m}$. On a much hotter day, the same metal measuring tape is then used again to measure the length of that same distance. The metal measuring tape is at a higher temperature than the ground, while the ground temperature stays unchanged. Which statement is correct?

Feb/March 2019

A thermometer is marked with graduations beginning at $-10\,^\circ\text{C}$ and finishing at $110\,^\circ\text{C}$. What are the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point of the Celsius scale?

Feb/March 2019

A thermometer is marked from $-10\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ at the bottom to $110\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ at the top. Which are the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point of the Celsius scale?

Feb/March 2019

For a $1\,\text{kg}$ block of aluminium, more thermal energy is needed to increase the temperature by $1\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ than for a $1\,\text{kg}$ block of copper. Why is this?

Feb/March 2019

State the temperatures of the fixed points on a temperature scale.

Feb/March 2019

Which points are the fixed points of the liquid-in-glass thermometer shown?

Feb/March 2020

Four separate metal blocks are supplied with the same amount of thermal energy. Which block has the largest thermal capacity?

Feb/March 2020

A solid is warmed from room temperature. The graph shows how its temperature changes with time while it is heated at a constant rate. At what time has it just changed fully into a liquid?

Feb/March 2020

Which points shown are the fixed points of the liquid-in-glass thermometer?

Feb/March 2020

The specific heat capacities of aluminium, iron, ethanol and water are provided. $1\,\text{kg}$ of each metal is placed into $5\,\text{kg}$ of each liquid. The initial temperature of each metal is $60^{\circ}\text{C}$. The initial temperature of each liquid is $10^{\circ}\text{C}$. Which case gives the greatest final temperature?

Feb/March 2020

State which substance shows the greatest rise in volume.

Feb/March 2020

Define what is meant by the specific latent heat of fusion of a substance.

Feb/March 2020

The diagram illustrates a basic thermometer. The roller is placed on a horizontal surface, and the steel bar sits above the roller. As the temperature changes, the pointer turns. Which physical property is used to measure temperature?

Feb/March 2021

The graph illustrates the way the internal energy of $1.0\ \text{kg}$ of a metal varies with temperature. What is the rise in internal energy of a block made of the same metal with mass $0.25\ \text{kg}$ when its temperature increases from $40\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ to $50\,^{\circ}\text{C}$?

Feb/March 2021

A lump of ice that is melting at $0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ and a beaker containing boiling water are each placed in a laboratory. The laboratory temperature is $20\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. What is happening to the temperature of the melting ice, and what is happening to the temperature of the boiling water?

Feb/March 2021

What occurs when the temperature of a liquid rises?

Feb/March 2023

At standard atmospheric pressure, what temperature does water boil at?

Feb/March 2024

Which row shows the way the volume and mass of liquid mercury change as it is heated?

Feb/March 2024

In which case does the water’s internal energy store rise?

Feb/March 2024

The diagram illustrates the apparatus used for an experiment investigating the heating of aluminium. The table lists the experimental results: mass of block = 0.80\,\text{kg}, voltmeter reading = 12\,\text{V}, ammeter reading = 5.0\,\text{A}, time = 300\,\text{s}. The specific heat capacity of aluminium is 900\,\text{J kg}^{-1}\,\degree\text{C}^{-1}. What is the maximum possible temperature increase in the block?

Feb/March 2024

Define the term specific heat capacity.

Feb/March 2024

A student carries out an experiment to find the specific heat capacity of a metal block. She notes the following measurements: energy supplied $=12\,\text{kJ}$, initial temperature $=20\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, final temperature $=45\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, mass of metal block $=600\,\text{g}$. What is the specific heat capacity of the metal block?

Feb/March 2025

A metal block is kept overnight in a cool, shaded room. The next morning, the metal block is placed in a warm environment. Which statement about the metal block is correct in the morning?

Feb/March 2025

A substance transfers thermal energy (heat) to the surroundings at a constant rate. The graph illustrates how the substance’s temperature varies with time. What might the section $PQ$ of the graph show?

May/June 2016

A student wants to verify the upper fixed point and the lower fixed point on a thermometer with a Celsius scale. She has four beakers $P$, $Q$, $R$ and $S$. Beaker $P$ holds a mixture of ice and salt. Beaker $Q$ holds a mixture of ice and water. Beaker $R$ holds boiling salt solution. Beaker $S$ holds boiling water. Which two beakers should she choose to check the fixed points?

May/June 2016

The same amount of thermal energy is transferred to two solid objects X and Y. The rise in temperature of object X is larger than the rise in temperature of object Y. Which statement accounts for this?

May/June 2016

What does the term fixed points of the scale of a liquid-in-glass thermometer mean?

May/June 2016

A liquid at room temperature is used to fill a flask and a glass tube up to level X. The flask is then put into ice, and the liquid level in the tube drops to level Y. Why does the level drop?

May/June 2016

The melting points listed for ethanol and mercury are given here. Ethanol: $-114\ ^\circ\text{C}$. Mercury: $-39\ ^\circ\text{C}$. Which one, or both, of these liquids would be suitable for use in a liquid-in-glass thermometer to measure temperatures of $-50\ ^\circ\text{C}$ and $-120\ ^\circ\text{C}$?

May/June 2016

A jug containing water is at room temperature. Several ice cubes, each at a temperature of $0\ ^\circ\text{C}$, are dropped into the water and they start to melt immediately. What happens to the temperature of the water, and what happens to the temperature of the ice cubes while they are melting?

May/June 2016

Which quantity corresponds to the thermal capacity of a beaker?

May/June 2016

Which of the following statements about evaporation is correct?

May/June 2016

A beaker holds $0.500\,\text{kg}$ of water at a temperature of $3.0^{\circ}\text{C}$. The beaker is then heated, so the water’s internal energy rises by $21.0\,\text{kJ}$. The specific heat capacity of water is $4200\,\text{J\,kg}^{-1}\,^{\circ}\text{C}^{-1}$. Determine the temperature of the water after heating.

May/June 2016

A substance is transferring thermal energy (heat) to the surroundings at a constant rate. The graph illustrates how the substance's temperature varies with time. What might the section PQ on the graph show?

May/June 2016

A student wants to verify the upper fixed point and the lower fixed point on a Celsius scale thermometer. She is given four beakers P, Q, R and S. Beaker P has a mixture of ice and salt. Beaker Q has a mixture of ice and water. Beaker R has boiling salt solution. Beaker S has boiling water. Which two beakers should she choose to check the fixed points?

May/June 2016

Which statement explains what occurs when ice at $0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ begins melting and turns into water?

May/June 2016

The diagram shows a liquid-in-glass thermometer. In what way can the thermometer be changed so that it is more sensitive?

May/June 2016

In an experiment used to determine specific heat capacity, an aluminium block is warmed and the increase in its temperature is measured. The energy absorbed by the block is $E$. The block has mass $m$. Its temperature increase is $\Delta T$. Which expression represents the specific heat capacity of aluminium?

May/June 2016

Fig. 7.1 shows apparatus used to illustrate thermal expansion.

May/June 2016

Researchers have discovered that 60 ^{\circ}C is the ideal temperature for drinking coffee. A designer has created a new kind of cup designed to keep coffee at 60 ^{\circ}C. The cup is illustrated in Fig. 8.1. Material Z has a melting point of 60 ^{\circ}C. At room temperature, material Z is in the solid state. Coffee at 90 ^{\circ}C is poured into the cup. The coffee then cools quickly to 60 ^{\circ}C.

May/June 2016

Two pans of water sit on the hotplates of an electric cooker, as illustrated in Fig. 5.1. One pan is small and the other is large. Once the hotplates are turned on, the water temperature in both pans begins to rise. When the water is below 100 ^{\circ}C, some of it is evaporating. At 100 ^{\circ}C, boiling begins and the temperature stays unchanged.

May/June 2016

A test-tube holding solid wax is immersed in a beaker of very hot water for several minutes, and the wax turns into a liquid.

May/June 2016

A glass bottle is sealed with a metal cap. The cap is very tight and hard to take off. The cap and the neck of the bottle are placed in a bowl of hot water. After this, the cap can be taken off more easily. What occurs to make it easier to remove the cap from the bottle?

May/June 2017

Two liquids of different types but equal mass are each poured into identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\,\text{s}$, while liquid 2 is heated for $200\,\text{s}$ using heaters with the same power. Both liquids experience the same increase in temperature. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2017

A glass of water is removed from a refrigerator. A few ice cubes are then added to the glass of water. The glass is afterwards left in the room for several hours. The graph illustrates how the temperature of the water in the glass changes from the moment it is taken out of the refrigerator. What does the temperature labelled $X$ indicate?

May/June 2017

The temperature of a bridge increases from $5\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ on a cold night to $25\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ at midday. What happens to the bridge?

May/June 2017

Two liquids with different identities but equal masses are placed in identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\,\text{s}$ and liquid 2 is heated for $200\,\text{s}$ using heaters with the same power. Both liquids experience the same increase in temperature. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2017

A solid material is warmed at a steady rate. It first turns into a liquid and then changes into a gas. The graph illustrates how the substance’s temperature varies. What are the melting point and the boiling point of the substance?

May/June 2017

Two equal masses of two different liquids are placed into identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\,\text{s}$, and liquid 2 is heated for $200\,\text{s}$, using heaters with the same power. The temperature increase for each liquid is the same. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2017

A $100\,\text{g}$ sample of water at $100\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ is turned into steam while staying at $100\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is $2300\,\text{J g}^{-1}$. How much thermal energy does the water absorb?

May/June 2017

What does the term specific latent heat of fusion of ice mean?

May/June 2017

Two liquids with equal masses are placed in identical beakers. Liquid 1 is warmed for $100\,\text{s}$, while liquid 2 is warmed for $200\,\text{s}$ using heaters that have the same power. The increase in temperature is the same for each liquid. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2017

Two different liquids of equal mass are placed in identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\ \text{s}$, while liquid 2 is heated for $200\ \text{s}$, using heaters of the same power. Both liquids experience the same increase in temperature. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2017

A wooden wheel can be made stronger by placing a tight iron ring around it. Which action would make it easier to slide the ring onto the wood?

May/June 2018

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer on a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. Which values should she choose for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?

May/June 2018

An electric kettle is used to warm some water. It is then used to warm another liquid. The temperature of the liquid increases more quickly than the temperature of the water. What could explain this difference?

May/June 2018

A wooden wheel can be reinforced by placing a tight iron ring around it. Which action would make it simpler to put the ring onto the wood?

May/June 2018

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer using a ^{\circ}C scale. Which values should she select for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?

May/June 2018

A wooden wheel may be reinforced by fitting a tight iron ring around it. Which action would help the ring go on more easily?

May/June 2018

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer with a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. What values should she choose for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?

May/June 2018

Which diagram illustrates how the thermal capacity of a silver object varies with its mass?

May/June 2018

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer using a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. Which values ought she to choose for the lower fixed point and for the upper fixed point?

May/June 2018

Which statements concerning boiling and evaporation are both true?

May/June 2018

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer on a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. Which values should she choose for the lower fixed point and for the upper fixed point?

May/June 2018

During an experiment, an object is heated. The energy transferred to the object is $3.0\,\text{kJ}$. Its mass is $2.0\,\text{kg}$. The temperature increase of the object is $10\,^\circ\text{C}$. The specific heat capacity of the object is $150\,\text{J (kg }^\circ\text{C})^{-1}$. What is the thermal capacity of the object?

May/June 2018

Two liquid-in-glass thermometers, P and Q, each hold the same volume of mercury and each has a capillary tube of the same length. The capillary tube in thermometer P is narrower than the one in thermometer Q. Which thermometer has the larger range and which has the larger sensitivity?

May/June 2018

At room temperature in a laboratory, 200 g of water is placed in a beaker. The water has a thermometer reading of 22 ^{\circ}C. Ice at 0 ^{\circ}C is introduced in small pieces, one piece at a time. After each addition, the mixture is stirred until the ice has completely melted. The additions continue until the thermometer shows 0 ^{\circ}C. It is then found that the total mass of ice added is 60 g.

May/June 2018

What occurs when a metal block is heated?

May/June 2019

A night storage heater has a large block of material that is heated by electricity during the night. In the daytime, the block cools and gives out thermal energy to the room. Which thermal capacity and which night-time temperature rise will result in the greatest amount of energy being stored in the block?

May/June 2019

A sample of mercury is warmed. In which states of matter does its volume increase as its temperature increases?

May/June 2019

A night storage heater includes a large block of material that is heated electrically during the night. In the daytime, the block cools and gives out thermal energy to the room. Which thermal capacity and which night-time temperature rise would result in the greatest amount of energy being stored by the block?

May/June 2019

The following three statements refer to a liquid-in-glass thermometer with a Celsius scale. Which of them are correct?

May/June 2019

A night storage heater has a large block of material that is heated by electricity overnight. In the daytime, the block cools, giving out thermal energy to the room. Which thermal capacity and which rise in temperature during the night would result in the greatest amount of energy being stored in the block?

May/June 2019

A student carries out an investigation into the melting point of a pure substance. She warms the substance gradually and records its temperature when melting begins and again when melting is complete. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2019

A night storage heater contains a large block of material that is heated electrically at night. In the daytime, the block cools and releases thermal energy into the room. Which thermal capacity and which night-time temperature increase would result in the greatest amount of energy being stored in the block?

May/June 2019

$100\,\text{g}$ of water at $25^{\circ}\text{C}$ is placed in an insulating cup. A further $50\,\text{g}$ of ice at $0^{\circ}\text{C}$ is then added to the water. The mixture is stirred until the water temperature drops to $0^{\circ}\text{C}$. At the end, $18\,\text{g}$ of ice is still not melted. The specific heat capacity of water is $4.2\,\text{J g}^{-1}\,^{\circ}\text{C}^{-1}$. What value for the specific latent heat of fusion of ice is obtained from this experiment?

May/June 2019

A night storage heater includes a large block of material that is warmed electrically overnight. In the daytime, the block loses heat and transfers thermal energy to the room. Which thermal capacity and which rise in temperature during the night will result in the greatest amount of energy being stored in the block?

May/June 2019

$100\,\text{g}$ of water initially at $25^{\circ}\text{C}$ is placed in an insulated cup. Then $50\,\text{g}$ of ice at $0^{\circ}\text{C}$ is put into the water. The mixture is stirred until the water temperature drops to $0^{\circ}\text{C}$. At the end, $18\,\text{g}$ of ice has not melted. The specific heat capacity of water is $4.2\,\text{J g}^{-1}\,^{\circ}\text{C}^{-1}$. What value for the specific latent heat of fusion of ice is obtained from this experiment?

May/June 2019

A night storage heater has a sizeable block of material that is warmed by electricity overnight. In the daytime, the block loses heat, giving thermal energy to the room. Which thermal capacity and which rise in temperature during the night would result in the greatest amount of energy being stored in the block?

May/June 2019

$100\,\text{g}$ of water at $25\,^\circ\text{C}$ is placed in an insulating cup. $50\,\text{g}$ of ice at $0\,^\circ\text{C}$ is then added to the water. The mixture is stirred until the water temperature drops to $0\,^\circ\text{C}$. $18\,\text{g}$ of ice is left unmelted. The specific heat capacity of water is $4.2\,\text{J g}^{-1}\,^\circ\text{C}^{-1}$. Which value does this experiment give for the specific latent heat of fusion of ice?

May/June 2019

State two ways that boiling differs from evaporation.

May/June 2019

The temperature of the air inside a sealed bottle rises. Which row shows the changes that happen to the trapped air?

May/June 2021

Why is a small space left between adjacent metal rails on a railway track?

May/June 2021

Every thermometer depends on a physical property that varies as temperature changes. Which property would be unsuitable for use in a thermometer?

May/June 2021