1. A rock from space is travelling at high speed towards the Earth.

(a) Complete the equation for the kinetic energy of an object travelling with a
speed v and state what any other terms in the equation represent. [1]

(b) The mass of the rock is 0.60kg.

When it hits the Earth, its average temperature increases by 25°C.

(i) The specific heat capacity of the rock is 560J/(kg°C). Calculate the increase in
the internal energy of the rock. [2]

(ii) Use the answer from (b)(i) to determine the minimum possible speed of the
rock when it hits the Earth. [2]

(iii) Suggest one reason why the speed determined in (b)(ii) is less than the actual
speed of the rock when it hits the Earth. [1]

2. A nurse uses a mercury-in-glass, clinical thermometer to measure the

temperature of a patient. Fig. 5.1 shows the structure of a clinical thermometer.

(a) The clinical thermometer has a small range and a high sensitivity.

(i) State what is meant by i) range ii) sensitivity [2]

(ii) State and explain one feature of this clinical thermometer that produces a high
sensitivity. [2]

(b) State the purpose of the constriction in the clinical thermometer. [1]

(c) Explain, in terms of the mercury molecules, how an increase in temperature

produces an increased reading on the thermometer. [3]
3. One form of latent heat is the thermal energy needed to melt a solid.

(a) Define specific latent heat. [2]

(b) Fig. 4.1 shows one method of measuring the thermal energy needed to melt
ice. The ice is contained in a glass funnel and covered with an insulator.

(i) The heater is switched on and the ice melts. The specific latent heat of fusion
of ice is 3.3 × 105 J /kg.

Calculate the energy needed to melt 5.0g of ice. [2]

(ii) Before the heater is switched on, thermal energy from the room causes some
of the ice to melt. Describe the process by which the ice gains thermal energy
from the air. [1]

4. In a steam cleaner, water is heated to its boiling point and is then turned into
steam (water in the gas state).

(a) Define boiling point. [1]

(b) (i) Describe the molecular structure of a liquid. [2]

(ii) Explain, using ideas about molecules, why thermal energy (heat) must be
supplied to the water as it boils. [2]
5. A passenger in an aircraft closes a plastic bag with some air inside, as shown in
Fig. 3.1.

(a) Explain how the molecules of air in the bag exert a pressure on the inside of
the bag. [2]

(b) When the bag is closed, the pressure of the air inside the aircraft is 80kPa and
the bag contains 500cm3 of air.

(i) When the aircraft is on the ground, the pressure of the air inside the aircraft is
100kPa.
Calculate the volume of air inside the bag when the aircraft is on the ground.
volume. [2]

(ii) State two assumptions that you made in your calculation in (b)(i) [2]
6. A gas is trapped at atmospheric pressure in a cylinder by a piston. The piston is
held in a fixed position by a movable rod. Fig. 6.1 shows the cylinder.

The cylinder is heated. As the temperature of the gas increases, its pressure
increases.

(a) Explain, in terms of molecules, why the pressure of the trapped gas increases.

[2]

(b) The rod is pulled down and the piston is then free to move as shown in Fig.
6.2.

As the piston moves, the temperature of the gas remains constant. State and
explain, in terms of molecules, what happens to the pressure of the gas. [3]

7. When a sample of a solid is heated, it becomes a liquid and eventually becomes

a gas.
(a) Fig. 5.1 shows the arrangement of the molecules in the solid.

In the space below, draw the arrangement of the molecules in the liquid. [1]

(b) Complete the table by describing the motion of the molecules in the solid,
liquid and gas.

(c) Suggest why a gas is able to fill a container but a solid has a fixed shape. [2]

8. (a) Equal volumes of air, copper and water are heated from 20 °C to 80 °C. They
expand by different amounts. Draw a line from each box on the left-hand side to
show which expands the most and which expands the least.
(b) Fig. 4.1 shows a mercury thermometer.

This thermometer has a suitable range for use in laboratory experiments, but has
a low sensitivity for some experiments.

(i) With reference to this thermometer, describe what is meant by

a)range. b) low sensitivity [2]

(ii) State one change in the design of a thermometer that increases its sensitivity.

[1]

9. A metal can and a plastic bottle, both containing liquid, are cooled by placing
them in a jug of melting ice, as shown in Fig. 4.1.
The can and bottle each contain 330 g of the same liquid at 15 °C.

(a) The specific heat capacity of the liquid is 4.2 J / (g °C).

Calculate the thermal energy released when 330 g of the liquid at 15 °C cools to 2
°C. [2]

(b) When water at 0 °C is used in the jug, instead of the melting ice, the cooling is
slower. Explain why cooling is faster when using melting ice in the jug, rather than
water at 0 °C. [2]

(c) The liquid in the metal can cools down faster than the liquid in the plastic
bottle. Suggest why this happens. [1]

10. Fig. 1.1 shows a painter standing on a wooden plank, directly above the right-
hand support.
The plank has length 3.6m, width 0.35m and thickness 0.025m. The gravitational
field strength g is 10N/ kg and the mass of the plank is 23kg.

(a) Calculate the density of the wood from which the plank is made. [2]

(b) The centre of mass of the plank is in the middle of the plank at a distance of
1.3m from each of the supports.

Calculate (i) the weight of the plank, [1]

(ii) the moment of the plank about the right-hand support. [2]

(c) The painter moves further to the right along the plank and the plank rotates
about the righthand support. Explain why the plank rotates. [1]

11. When the lid of a freezer is opened, it pivots about the hinge at the back of
the freezer. The handle is at the front. Fig. 3.1 is a side view of the freezer.
The handle is 0.70m from the hinge. The lid has a mass of 2.0kg.

(a) The gravitational field strength g is 10N/ kg.

(i) Calculate the weight of the lid. [1]

(ii) The lid is uniform and its centre of mass is at its centre. The weight of the lid
produces a moment about the hinge.

1. Calculate the moment about the hinge when the lid is closed. [2]

2. The moment required to open the lid is greater than the value calculated in (a)
(ii)1.

Suggest one reason for this. [1]

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CENTRE

SECOND SEMESTER BEFORE MID EXAM 2019-20
Class: VIII
NAME:
Date:
SUBJECT: PHYSICS
Answer all questions.
Section B

Answer all questions. .

Electronic calculators may be used.

You may lose marks if you do not show your working or if you do not use
appropriate units.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question.