Answers to exam-style questions

Topic 3
Where appropriate, 1 ✓ = 1 mark

1 A
2 B
3 C
4 D
5 B
6 A
7 B
8 A
9 D (the question should have specified equal moles for each gas)
10 A
nRT
11 a Use pV = nRT ⇒ V = ✓
p
1.0 × 8.31 × 273
To find V = = 2.27 × 10 −2 m 3 ✓
1.0 × 105
b i There are N A = 6.02 × 10 23 molecules. ✓
2.27 × 10 −2 −26
So to each molecule corresponds a volume 23 =3.77 × 10 m 3. ✓
6.02 × 10
−26
3
ii Assuming a cube of this volume the side is 3.77 × 10 = 3.35 × 10 −9 m , which is therefore an estimate of
the separation of the molecules. ✓
This separation is much larger than the diameter of the helium atom and so the ideal gas approximation is
good. ✓
m 0.207 −5
c One mole of lead has a mass of 0.207 kg and a volume of V = = 3 =1.83 × 10 m3 . ✓
ρ 11.3 × 10
1.83 × 10 −5
To each molecule corresponds a volume =3.04 × 10 −29 m 3. ✓
6.02 × 10 23
−29
3
Assuming a cube of this volume the side is 3.04 × 10 = 3.12 × 10 −10 m which is therefore an estimate of
the separation of the molecules. ✓
3.35 × 10 −9
d The ratio is then ,✓
3.12 × 10 −10
≈ 10 . ✓
12 a Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to change the temperature of a 1 kg of a substance by
1 K. ✓
b One mole of any substance contains the same number of molecules; to raise the temperature by 1 K the
internal energy will increase by the same amount and so the same heart must be provided. ✓
One kg of different substances contains different numbers of molecules and so different amounts of energy are
required to increase the temperature by 1 K. ✓

physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 3 1
 ∆Q ∆m ∆m
c From = c ∆T we find 600 = × 990 × (40 − 20). ✓
∆t ∆t ∆t
∆m
So that = 3.0 × 10 −2 kg s −1. ✓
∆t
∆V ∆V
d Then =ρ = 1.25 × 3.0 × 10 −2 = 3.8 × 10 −2 m 3 s −1 . ✓
∆ t ∆ t
5
e The energy required is Q = mL = 180 × 2200 = 3.96 × 10 J . ✓
3.96 × 105
t = = 528 s = 8.8 min . ✓
750
13 a i The graph is a curve. ✓
If there was no air resistance the acceleration would have been constant and the velocity – time graph a
straight line. ✓
ii We must estimate the area under the graph by counting squares with one small square equal in area to
0.5 m. ✓
There about 370 small squares so the height is about 185 m. ✓
1
iii Applying mgh = mv 2 gives v = 2 gh = 2 × 9.8 × 185, ✓
2
v = 60.2 ≈ 60 m s −1. ✓

−1
b The impact speed is about 18.1 m s implying a loss of mechanical energy of
1
× 8.0(60.2 2 − 18.12 ) = 1.32 × 104 J. ✓
2
Assuming all of this goes into heating the ball and that this amount of energy warms the entire body uniformly. ✓
4
mc ∆ T = 1.32 × 10 , ✓
1.32 × 104
and so ∆ T = ≈ 5 K. ✓
8.0 × 320
14 a The internal energy is the sum of the total random kinetic energy of the molecules and the intermolecular
potential energy of the molecules of tungsten. ✓
b The tungsten loses heat 0.050 × 132 × (T − 31). ✓
This heat is absorbed by the water and the calorimeter:
0.300 × 4200 × (31 − 22) + 0.120 × 900 × (31 − 22) = 1.23 × 104 J ✓
1.23 × 104
Hence 0.050 × 132 × (T − 31) = 1.23 × 104 or T − 31 = = 1864 and finally T = 1895 ≈ 1900 °C . ✓
0.050 × 132
c The calculated temperature is T = Q + 31 where Q is the heat that went into the water and calorimeter.
mW c W
The actual Q would have been higher because some was transferred into the air during the move of the metal
into the water. ✓
Hence the calculated value is smaller than the actual temperature. ✓
15 a The internal energy is the sum of the total random kinetic energy of the molecules and the intermolecular
potential energy of the molecules of the substance. ✓
b During melting energy is supplied to the substance melting increasing its internal energy but not its
temperature. ✓
Hence the student’s statement is false. ✓
c The liquid is losing heat to the surroundings because the container is not insulated. ✓
When the rate of heat loss is equal to the rate at which energy is being provided the temperature will remain
constant. ✓

2 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 3 physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015
 d The rate of heat loss is equal to the rate at which energy was being provided when the heater was on i.e.
35 W. ✓
∆Q ∆T 3.1
Since = mc we have that 35 = 0.240 × c × .✓
∆t ∆t 60
35 × 60
And so c = = 2.8 × 10 3 J kg −1 K −1. ✓
0.240 × 3.1
pV 250 × 10 3 × 1.50 × 10 −2
16 a pV = nRT ⇒ n = to find n = = 1.653. ✓
RT 8.31 × 273
So that N 1 = nN A = 1.653 × 6.02 × 10 23 = 9.95 × 10 23 ≈ 1.0 × 10 24 molecules. ✓
b As the tyre rolls on the road the rubber lining of the tyre expands and contracts generating thermal energy that
heats the air in the tyre. ✓
The volume will increase.
And so will the pressure and temperature. ✓
nRT 1.653 × 8.31 × (273 + 35)
c p= = = 2.64 × 105 Pa ≈ 260 kPa . ✓
V 1.60 × 10 −2
p p 250 230
d i Assuming the volume and temperature stay the same we must have that 1 = 2 and so = giving
n1 n2 1.653 n2
n2 = 1.52. The number of molecules is then N 2 = 1.52 × 6.02 × 10 23 = 9.15 × 10 23 . ✓
The number of molecules that left is therefore N 1 − N 2 = 9.95 × 10 23 − 9.15 × 10 23 = 8.0 × 10 22 . ✓
8.0 × 10 22
The rate of loss is then = 2.8 × 1018 s −1 . ✓
8 × 60 × 60
ii The number of moles lost is 1.65 − 1.52 = 0.13 ✓
And so the lost mass of air is 0.13 × 29 = 3.8 g . ✓

physics for the IB Diploma © Cambridge University Press 2015 ANSWERS TO EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS – Topic 3 3