1.
The specific heat capacity c of a solid block of mass m is determined by heating the
block and measuring its temperature. The graph below shows the variation of the
temperature T of the block with the thermal energy Q transferred to the block.
The gradient of the line is equal to
c
.
A. m
m
.
B. c
C. mc.
1
.
D. mc
(Total 1 mark)
2. A solid piece of tungsten melts into liquid without a change in temperature. Which of
the following is correct for the molecules in the liquid phase compared with the
molecules in the solid phase?
Kinetic energy Potential energy
A. same greater
B. same same
C. greater greater
D. greater same
(Total 1 mark)
3. The temperature of an ideal gas is a measure of the molecules’ average
A. velocity.
B. momentum.
C. kinetic energy.
IB Questionbank Physics 1
D. frequency of collisions.
(Total 1 mark)
4. A heater of constant power heats a liquid of mass m and specific heat capacity c. The
graph below shows how the temperature of the liquid varies with time.
The gradient of the graph is k and no energy is lost to the surroundings. What is the
power of the heater?
A. kmc
k
B. mc
mc
C. k
1
D. kmc
(Total 1 mark
5. The energy of the molecules of an ideal gas is
A. thermal only.
B. thermal and potential.
C. potential and kinetic.
D. kinetic only.
(Total 1 mark)
6. Oil with volume V has specific heat capacity c at temperature T. The density of oil is ρ.
Which of the following is the thermal capacity of the oil?
A. ρcV
IB Questionbank Physics 2
cV
B.
C. ρcVT
(Total 1 mark)
7. The volume of an ideal gas in a container is increased at constant temperature. Which of
the following statements is/are correct about the molecules of the gas?
I. Their speed remains constant.
II. The frequency of collisions of molecules with unit area of the container wall
decreases.
III. The force between them decreases.
A. I only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
(Total 1 mark)
8. This question is about internal energy and thermal energy (heat).
(a) Distinguish between internal energy and thermal energy.
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(3)
(b) Describe, with reference to the energy of the molecules, the difference in internal
energy of a piece of iron and the internal energy of an ideal gas.
IB Questionbank Physics 3
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(2)
(c) A piece of iron is placed in a kiln until it reaches the temperature θ of the kiln. The
iron is then quickly transferred to water held in a thermally insulated container.
The water is stirred until it reaches a steady temperature. The following data are
available.
Thermal capacity of the piece of iron = 60 J K–1
Thermal capacity of the water = 2.0 × 103 J K–1
Initial temperature of the water = 16 °C
Final temperature of the water = 45 °C
The thermal capacity of the container and insulation is negligible.
(i) State an expression, in terms of θ and the above data, for the energy transfer
of the iron in cooling from the temperature of the kiln to the final
temperature of the water.
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(1)
(ii) Calculate the increase in internal energy of the water as the iron cools in the
water.
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(1)
(iii) Use your answers to (c)(i) and (c)(ii) to determine θ.
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IB Questionbank Physics 4
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(2)(Total 9 marks)
9. This question is about mechanics and thermal physics.
The graph shows the variation with time t of the speed v of a ball of mass 0.50 kg, that
has been released from rest above the Earth’s surface.
The force of air resistance is not negligible. Assume that the acceleration of free fall is
g = 9.81 m s–2.
(a) State, without any calculations, how the graph could be used to determine the
distance fallen.
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(1)
(b) (i) In the space below, draw and label arrows to represent the forces on the ball
at
2.0 s.
IB Questionbank Physics 5
(1)
(ii) Use the graph opposite to show that the acceleration of the ball at 2.0 s is
approximately 4 m s–2.
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(iv) State and explain whether the air resistance on the ball at t = 5.0 s is smaller
than, equal to or greater than the air resistance at t = 2.0 s.
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(2)
(c) After 10 s the ball has fallen 190 m.
(i) Show that the sum of the potential and kinetic energies of the ball has
decreased by 780 J.
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IB Questionbank Physics 6
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(3)
(ii) The specific heat capacity of the ball is 480 J kg–1 K–1. Estimate the increase
in the temperature of the ball.
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(2)
(iii) State an assumption made in the estimate in (c)(ii).
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(Total 12 marks)
10. This question is about internal energy and thermal energy (heat).
(a) Distinguish between internal energy and thermal energy.
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IB Questionbank Physics 7
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(3)
(b) A piece of iron is placed in a kiln until it reaches the temperature θ of the kiln. The
iron is then quickly transferred to water held in a thermally insulated container.
The water is stirred until it reaches a steady temperature. The following data are
available.
Thermal capacity of the piece of iron = 60 J K–1
Thermal capacity of the water = 2.0 × 103 J K–1
Initial temperature of the water = 16 °C
Final temperature of the water = 45 °C
The thermal capacity of the container and insulation is negligible.
(i) State an expression, in terms of θ and the above data, for the energy transfer
of the iron in cooling from the temperature of the kiln to the final
temperature of the water.
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(1)
(ii) Calculate the increase in internal energy of the water as the iron cools in the
water.
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(1)
(iii) Use your answers to (b)(i) and (b)(ii) to determine θ.
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IB Questionbank Physics 8
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(2)
(Total 7 marks)
11. This question is about heating a liquid.
(a) Suggest why, in terms of the molecular model, the energy associated with melting
is less than that associated with boiling.
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(2)
(b) Milk in a cup is heated to boiling point by passing steam through it. Whilst
cooling subsequently, some milk evaporates.
(i) Distinguish between evaporation and boiling.
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(2)
(ii) The cup contains 0.30 kg of milk at an initial temperature of 18 °C. Estimate
the minimum mass of steam at 100 °C that is required to heat the milk to 80
°C.
Specific latent heat of vaporization of water = 2.3 × 106 J kg–1
Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg–1 K–1
IB Questionbank Physics 9
Specific heat capacity of milk = 3800 J kg–1 K–1
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(4)
(iii) State two reasons, other than evaporation, why the answer to (b)(ii) is likely
to be different from the actual mass of condensed steam.
1: ......................................................................................................................
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2: ......................................................................................................................
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(2)
(Total 10 marks)
12. This question is about thermal energy transfer.
(a) A piece of copper is held in a flame until it reaches thermal equilibrium. The time
it takes to reach thermal equilibrium will depend on the thermal capacity of the
piece of copper.
(i) Define thermal capacity.
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IB Questionbank Physics 10
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(1)
(ii) Outline what is meant by thermal equilibrium in this context.
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(1)
(b) The piece of copper is transferred quickly to a plastic cup containing water. The
thermal capacity of the cup is negligible. The following data are available.
Mass of copper = 0.12 kg
Mass of water = 0.45 kg
Rise in temperature of water = 30 K
Final temperature of copper = 308 K
Specific heat capacity of copper = 390 J kg K–1
Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg K–1
(i) Use the data to calculate the temperature of the flame.
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(3)
(ii) Explain whether the temperature of the flame is likely to be greater or less
than your answer to (b)(i).
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IB Questionbank Physics 11
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(2)
(Total 7 marks)
13. This question is about internal energy, heat and ideal gases.
(a) The internal energy of a piece of copper is increased by heating.
(i) Explain what is meant, in this context, by internal energy and heating.
Internal
energy: .................................................................................................
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Heating: ............................................................................................................
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(3)
(ii) The piece of copper has mass 0.25 kg. The increase in internal energy of the
copper is 1.2 × 103 J and its increase in temperature is 20 K. Estimate the
specific heat capacity of copper.
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(2)
(b) An ideal gas is kept in a cylinder by a piston that is free to move. The gas is
heated such that its internal energy increases and the pressure remains constant.
IB Questionbank Physics 12
Use the molecular model of ideal gases to explain
(i) the increase in internal energy.
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(1)
(ii) how the pressure remains constant.
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(3)(Total 9 marks)
IB Questionbank Physics 13
