GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition

Answers to End-of-chapter questions for Chapter 5, Expansion

It is very important that you are able to answer the questions on your own, using your
own knowledge of Physics.
Have a go at the questions first, and then check your answers using this page.
If you get a question wrong, try to work out where you have made an error.

1. a) expands, contracts; force; bends, brass, iron, brass

b) solids, gases
c) molecules (particles)

2. a) It might explode because of the powerful forces of expansion (but normally

there is some air above the liquid that can be compressed).
b) So that the gas in the space above can be compressed if the lemonade
expands.
c) The air in the beach-ball may expand so much that it bursts the ball.
d) The warm water heats the air inside, so that it expands enough to push the
ball back into shape again.
e) This could be very dangerous; the gas inside would heat up and the pressure
inside would rise higher and higher until the can exploded.

3. The hot water expands the cap (but not the bottle) so that the cap is larger and
looser, and can then be unscrewed.

4. a) See page 23. (Experiment 5.4 and 5.5)

b) Invert the bimetallic strip so that the brass is underneath. Then when the
strip cools down, it bends downwards and makes contact to ring the warning
bell.

5. a) The light comes on, and the heater starts to warm up.
b) The bi-metallic strip bends upwards (brass on the outside of the bend).
c) The contacts separate, so the current is switched off. The lamp goes off and
the heater starts to cool.
d) The bi-metallic strip cools and starts to go back to its original shape
(straight).
e) Steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) are repeated.
f) The light flashes on and off, repeatedly.
g) The flashing turn-indicators.

OUP GCSE Physics for You, Fifth Edition © Keith Johnson & Sue Holt, 2016 page 1 of 1