1

1 Describe an experiment to demonstrate the difference between good and bad emitters of infra-red
radiation. You may include a diagram to help your description. State what readings should be taken.

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[Total: 3]

2 A thermometer has a bulb that is painted white and is shiny.

It is placed in boiling water for several minutes. It is then removed from the water and is held in air.

The figure shows how the thermometer reading changes during the next 8 minutes.
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100

temperature
/ °C
80

60

40

20

0
0 2 4 6 8
time / minutes
Fig. 4.1

The bulb of this thermometer is now re-painted so that it has a matt, black surface.

The procedure is repeated.

(a) On the figure, sketch a second line to suggest how the reading of the re-painted thermometer
changes during the 8 minutes. [2]
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(b) Tick one of the boxes to show how painting the bulb black affects the linearity of the scale,
the range and the sensitivity of the thermometer.

The linearity, the range and the sensitivity all change.

Only the linearity and the range change.

Only the linearity and the sensitivity change.

Only the range and the sensitivity change.

Only the linearity changes.

Only the range changes.

Only the sensitivity changes.

None of these properties changes.

[1]

[Total: 3]

3 An air conditioning unit inside a room in a house is switched on. The air conditioning unit takes in
warm air and gives out cold air, as shown in the diagram.

Explain how the air conditioning unit cools all the air in the room.

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[Total: 3]

4 The diagram shows part of a white wall and a black door of a house. Two thermometers have been
attached, one to the wall and the other to the door.

Thermometer A measures the temperature of the white wall. Thermometer B measures the
temperature of the black door.

The thermometer readings are recorded after the Sun has been shining on the house for some
time.

Suggest which thermometer has the higher temperature and explain why.

higher temperature .................................................................................................................

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

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[Total: 3]

5 A house has white wooden walls and a black wooden door, as shown in the diagram.

The Sun is shining on the door and the front wall of the house.

State the name of the process by which thermal energy is transferred from the Sun to the Earth.

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[Total: 1]

6 A cup made from plastic, containing a hot drink, is shown in the diagram.
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(a) State the term given to materials that reduce the transfer of thermal energy.

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(b) The hot drink gradually cools.

Describe and explain two processes by which thermal energy is transferred from the hot drink.

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[Total: 6]

7 The diagram shows a liquid-in-glass thermometer.

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(a) (i) Which of these metals is often used for the liquid in thermometers?
Tick the correct box.

magnesium

mercury

silver

[1]

(ii) The thermometer is placed inside a freezer containing ice.

Suggest the temperature of the ice. Draw an arrow on the diagram.

[1]

(iii) A thermometer is calibrated using two fixed points. State the temperature of the two
fixed points.

lower fixed point = .......................... °C

upper fixed point = ......................... °C [1]

(b) The sentences are about thermal processes. Complete each sentence. Use words from the
box. Each word may be used once, more than once or not at all.

conductor convection emitter insulator radiation reflection

A dull black surface is a good ..................................

Copper is used to make pans because it is a good thermal .....................................

In fluids, thermal energy is transferred mainly by ...............................................

Thermal energy reaches Earth from the Sun by means of ......................... [4]

[Total: 7]

8 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.
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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.

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

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

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

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[Total: 3]
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9 In cool climates, people use mineral wool to reduce heat loss from houses. Mineral wool is made
of fibres and trapped air, as shown in the diagram.

Use words from the box to complete the sentences. Each word may be used once, more than once,
or not at all.

conductor conduction convection emitter insulator radiation radiator

Air is a good ............................................ .

When air is trapped between fibres, it reduces heat loss by .....................................

and by ........................................ . [3]

[Total: 3]
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10 A student constructs a device for absorbing thermal energy from the Sun. The diagram shows the
device.

The student places the white plastic pipe in sunlight. The cold water flows slowly from Tank A to
Tank B. Energy from the Sun heats the water in the pipe.

Describe how the thermal energy is transferred from the Sun to the water inside the pipe.

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

[Total: 2]

11 A Bunsen burner heats a beaker of water, as shown in the diagram.

(a) Thermal energy (heat) transfers through the bottom of the beaker to the water.

State the name given to this process.

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(b) Thermal energy transfers throughout the water in the beaker.

Describe and explain how this happens.

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[Total: 5]

12 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.

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

(i) in the first five minutes

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(ii) in the last five minutes.

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

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(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. ........................................................................................................

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[Total: 6]

13 A student constructs a device for absorbing thermal energy from the Sun. The diagram shows the
device.

The student places the white plastic pipe in sunlight. The cold water flows slowly from Tank A to
Tank B. Energy from the Sun heats the water in the pipe.

The student wants to increase the thermal energy absorbed by the water in the pipe. Suggest three
improvements he can make to increase the thermal energy absorbed.

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

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

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3 ...............................................................................................................................................

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[Total: 3]