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Thermal Properties and

Temperature
Question Paper 3

Level IGCSE
Subject Physics
ExamBoard CIE
Topic Thermal Physics
Sub-Topic Thermal Properties and Temperature
Paper Type (Extended) Theory Paper
Booklet Question Paper 3

Time Allowed: 58 minutes

Score: /48

Percentage: /100
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1 Fig. 4.1 shows some of the apparatus that a student uses to determine the specific heat 1
of aluminium.

connections to electric circuit

electric heater

insulating lid

thermometer

aluminium block

insulating container

Fig. 4.1

(a) State the measurements the student needs to make, including those from the electric circuit.
For each quantity measured, state a symbol.

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(b) Use your symbols from (a) to complete the formula used to determine the specific heat
capacity c.

specific heat capacity c =

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

(c) Another student performs the experiment without using insulation. He obtains a higher value
for c.

Explain why this student’s measurements lead to this higher value.

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

[Total: 7]
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2 A technician is designing a liquid-in-glass thermometer. The following is a list of properties of the

thermometer that she is considering.

sensitivity range speed of response linearity

(a) (i) 1. Which one of these properties is affected by the length of the stem of the
thermometer?

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2. Explain your answer.

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[2]

(ii) 1. Which property is affected by the diameter of the capillary?

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2. Explain your answer.

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[2]

(b) The thermometer is to be used to measure temperatures between −10 °C and 50 °C. The
technician considers using water or red-coloured alcohol as the liquid in the thermometer.

(i) Write down which liquid would be suitable.

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(ii) Give two reasons for your answer.

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

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

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[2]

[Total: 6]
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3 A student uses a 2400 W electric kettle to obtain a value for the specific heat capacity of
sunflower oil.

Fig. 6.1 shows the apparatus.

thermometer

measuring
kettle jug

plug
watch

Fig. 6.1

The student uses a measuring jug and pours 1.5 kg of sunflower oil into the empty kettle. He
uses a thermometer to measure the temperature of the oil.

The kettle is switched on and left on for 50 s. The temperature of the oil increases by 32 °C.

The student assumes that all the electrical energy is transferred as thermal energy to the oil.

(a) Calculate the value for the specific heat capacity of sunflower oil obtained by the student.

specific heat capacity = ................................................. [4]

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(b) State and explain whether the value for the specific heat capacity obtained by the
student is too large or too small.

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

4 (a) Suggest

(i) an example of a change of state resulting from the removal of thermal energy from
a quantity of material,

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(ii) the effect of this change of state on the temperature of the material.

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(b) Define the thermal capacity of a body.

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(c) A polystyrene cup holds 250 g of water at 20 °C. In order to cool the water to make a
cold drink, small pieces of ice at 0 °C are added until the water reaches 0 °C and no
unmelted ice is present.

[specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 J / (g °C), specific latent heat of fusion of
ice = 330 J / g]

Assume no thermal energy is lost or gained by the cup.

(i) Calculate the thermal energy lost by the water in cooling to 0 °C.

thermal energy lost = ................................................. [2]

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(ii) State the thermal energy gained by the ice in melting.

thermal energy gained = ................................................. [1]

(iii) Calculate the mass of ice added.

mass of ice = ................................................. [2]

[Total: 9]
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5 Fig. 6.1 shows a glass flask full of water at 10 °C and sealed with a bung. A long glass tube
passes through the bung into the water. The water level in the tube is at X.

bung X

glass flask

water

Fig. 6.1

When the flask is placed in hot water, the water level initially falls a little below X, and then
rises some way above X.

(a) Suggest why

(i) the water level initially falls,

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(ii) the water level then rises,

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(iii) the rise is greater than the fall.

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(b) Suggest a change to the apparatus that would make the fall and rise of the water level
greater.

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[Total: 6]
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6 (a) Define specific latent heat of fusion.

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(b) (i) A tray of area 0.25 m2, filled with ice to a depth of 12 mm, is removed from a
refrigerator.

Calculate the mass of ice on the tray. The density of ice is 920 kg / m3.

mass = ................................................. [2]

(ii) Thermal energy from the Sun is falling on the ice at a rate of 250 W / m2. The ice
absorbs 60 % of this energy.

Calculate the energy absorbed in 1.0 s by the 0.25 m2 area of ice on the tray.

energy = ................................................. [2]

(iii) The ice is at its melting temperature.

Calculate the time taken for all the ice to melt. The specific latent heat of fusion of
ice is 3.3 × 105 J / kg.

time = ................................................. [3]

[Total: 8]
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7 (a) Explain why a liquid cools when evaporation takes place from its surface.
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(b) Fig. 7.1 shows five vessels each made of the same metal and containing water.

Vessels A, B, C and D are identical in size and shape. Vessel E is shallower and wider.
The temperature of the air surrounding each vessel is 20 °C.

A B C D E

Fig. 7.1

The table shows details about each vessel and their contents.

volume of initial temperature

vessel outer surface
water / cm3 of water / °C
A dull
ull 80
B shiny 200 80
C dull
ull 95
D dull
ull 80
E dull
ull 80

The following questions are about the time taken for the temperature of the water in the
vessels to fall by 10 °C from the initial temperature.

(i) Explain why the water in B takes longer to cool than the water in A.

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(ii) Explain why the water in C cools more quickly than the water in A.

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(iii) Explain why the water in D cools more quickly than the water in A.

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(iv) Suggest two reasons why the water in E cools more quickly than the water in A.

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

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

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[2]

[Total: 7]