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1 The diagram shows some gas trapped in a metal cylinder by a piston.

(a) The position of the piston is fixed. The cylinder is moved from a cold room to a warm room.

Explain, in terms of molecules, what happens to the pressure of the gas in the cylinder.

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(b) The piston is now released. It moves to the right and finally stops.

Explain these observations in terms of the pressure and the volume of the gas in the cylinder.

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[Total: 6]

2 A footballer and a referee are discussing a puddle of water that has formed on the pitch. The
footballer wears a white shirt whilst the referee wears a black shirt which, apart from its colour, is
identical.

The diagram shows the two men looking at the puddle.

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The weather is bright and sunny.

(a) State and explain how the temperature of the white shirt differs from the temperature of the
black shirt.

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(b) The volume of water in the puddle is slowly decreasing.

(i) Describe how two changes in the water conditions could affect the rate at which the
puddle dries.

change 1 ..............................................................................................................

effect ....................................................................................................................

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change 2 ..............................................................................................................

effect ....................................................................................................................

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(ii) Explain, in terms of the water molecules, what happens as the puddle dries.

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[Total: 6]

3 A balloon contains a fixed mass of gas.

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(a) Explain, in terms of the momentum of molecules, how the gas in the balloon exerts a pressure.

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(b) Explain, in terms of molecules, why the pressure of the gas increases when the volume of the
balloon decreases. The temperature of the gas is constant.

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(c) The initial volume of the gas is 500 cm and its pressure is 1.1 × 10 Pa. The volume is reduced
3
to 200 cm . The temperature of the gas is constant.

Calculate the new pressure.

pressure = .................................................. [2]

[Total: 6]

4 The diagram shows a child releasing a balloon filled with helium.

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The pressure of the helium in the balloon keeps the balloon inflated.

(a) Explain how the particles of helium produce this pressure.

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(b) As the balloon travels upwards through the atmosphere, the volume of the helium increases.
The temperature of the helium remains constant.

State an equation that relates the volume of the helium to its pressure.

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[Total: 4]

5 The graph shows how the air pressure in the atmosphere changes with the height above ground
level.
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(a) Using the graph, determine the pressure at ground level. Give the unit.

pressure = ............................................. unit = .......................... [2]

(b) Using the graph, determine the height at which the volume of the helium in a balloon is twice
the volume at ground level.

height = ............................................... [2]

[Total: 4]

6 A beaker contains water at room temperature. The diagram shows the beaker placed on a tripod
above a Bunsen burner.
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The Bunsen burner is lit and the temperature of the water begins to increase.

(a) The water is evaporating.

(i) Describe one difference between evaporation and boiling.

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(ii) State and explain what happens to the rate at which the water evaporates as its
temperature increases.

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(b) After a few minutes, the water reaches its boiling point temperature. The water continues to
gain energy from the Bunsen burner.

(i) State what happens to the temperature of the water in the beaker.

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(ii) The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2.3 x 10 J / kg. After the water
reaches its boiling point, it takes 12 minutes for 0.095 kg of water to boil away.

Calculate the average rate at which energy is being supplied to the water by heating.

rate of energy supplied = ................................................ [3]

[Total: 7]

7 The diagram shows a balloon filled with helium that is used to lift measuring instruments to a great
height above the Earth’s surface.
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(a) Explain, in terms of momentum, how the atoms of helium produce a force on the wall of the
balloon.

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(b) At ground level, the pressure of the helium in the balloon is 1.0 × 10 Pa. The volume occupied
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by the helium is 9.6 m .

The balloon is released and it rises quickly through the atmosphere. The volume occupied by
the helium increases, but the temperature of the helium may be assumed to stay constant.

(i) Explain, in terms of the helium atoms in the balloon, why the pressure in the balloon is
smaller than at ground level.

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(ii) Calculate the pressure of the helium when it occupies a volume of 12 m .

pressure = ............................................ [2]

[Total: 7]

8 The diagram shows a cold plastic spoon that has just been placed in hot liquid in a cup.
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(a) Describe, in terms of molecules, why the temperature of the whole of the spoon increases.

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(b) The plastic spoon is replaced by a metal spoon.

Describe an additional process by which the temperature of the whole of this spoon increases.

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[Total: 5]

9 The diagram shows the apparatus used to observe the motion of smoke particles that are in the
air in a box.
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Light from a lamp enters the box through a window in one side of the box. The smoke particles are
observed using a microscope fixed above a window in the top of the box.

(a) The motion of a single smoke particle is observed through the microscope.

In the circle shown, sketch the path of this smoke particle.

[1]

(b) Explain why the smoke particle follows the path that is observed.

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[Total: 4]
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10 A microscope that produces a very high magnification is used to observe the Brownian motion of
smoke particles in air.

Diagram A shows the apparatus used with the microscope. Diagram B represents the view through
the microscope and shows one of the smoke particles being observed.

diagram A diagram B

(a) On diagram B, draw a possible path for the smoke particle. [2]

(b) Describe how air molecules cause the smoke particle to follow the observed path.

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[Total: 4]
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11 A beaker contains some water at room temperature. A student places a mercury-in-glass

thermometer in the water with the bulb of the thermometer just beneath the surface of the water.

The diagram shows the arrangement.

The student uses an electric fan to blow air across the open top of the beaker. She notices that the
reading on the thermometer begins to decrease.

Explain, in terms of water molecules, why the temperature of the water at the surface begins to
decrease.

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[Total: 3]
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12 The diagram shows a volume of gas in a cylinder.

The piston in the cylinder is free to move. The piston moves to the left when the temperature of the
gas is decreased.

Explain, in terms of the molecules of the gas, why this happens.

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[Total: 4]

13 Crystalline rocks are solids made of atoms.

A sculptor makes a statue from a block of crystalline rock using a cutting tool.

Explain why he must apply a large force to the tool to remove a small piece of rock.

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[Total: 2]

14 A helium-filled balloon in the room of a house suddenly bursts.

State and explain, in terms of atoms, what happens to the helium from the balloon after the balloon
has burst.

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[Total: 2]
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15 The diagram represents an atom.

Representing atoms by circles approximately the same size as in the diagram, sketch

• in the box labelled solid, the arrangement of atoms in a crystalline solid,

• in the box labelled gas, the arrangement of atoms in a gas.

solid gas

[2]

[Total: 2]

16 Describe the motion of the atoms in a solid.

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[Total: 1]

17 Describe the movement of the molecules in

(a) a solid,

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(b) a gas.

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[Total: 3]
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18 A closed box contains gas molecules.

Explain, in terms of momentum, how the molecules exert a pressure on the walls of the box.

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[Total: 4]

19 A person climbs out of a swimming pool and stands in the open air.

Explain why evaporation of water from the surface of the person’s body causes the person to feel
cold.

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[Total: 2]

20 1. ..............................................................................................................................................

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[Total: 3]