Physics
Thermal physics and waves — Topics 2-3
- 1.
A 0.50 kg metal block receives 9000 J of energy and its temperature rises by 40 °C. Calculate its specific heat capacity.
[4 marks] - 2.
A water wave travels at 1.8 m/s with wavelength 0.60 m. Calculate its frequency and state what happens to frequency when the wave enters shallower water.
[4 marks] - 3.
A 2.0 kg block of ice at 0 °C is heated until it fully melts, absorbing 668 000 J. Calculate the specific latent heat of fusion of ice.
[3 marks] - 4.
Explain, using the kinetic particle model, why the pressure of a fixed mass of gas increases when it is heated at constant volume.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 5.
Describe, in terms of particle arrangement and movement, the difference between a solid and a gas.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 6.
A sound wave has frequency 500 Hz and travels at 340 m/s through air. Calculate its wavelength.
[3 marks] - 7.
Distinguish between a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave, giving one example of each.
[2 marks] · no calculator - 8.
Describe an experiment to demonstrate the reflection of a water wave from a straight barrier in a ripple tank, and state the relationship between the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 9.
Explain why a difference in temperature is required for thermal energy to transfer between two objects by conduction, and state the direction of transfer.
[2 marks] · no calculator - 10.
A wave passes from deep water into shallow water and its speed decreases. Explain what happens to its wavelength, and state what happens to its frequency.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 11.
Explain, in terms of density, how a convection current transfers thermal energy in a fluid that is heated from below.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 12.
State how the colour and texture of a surface affect the rate at which it emits infrared radiation, and state which type of surface is the best emitter.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 13.
State three factors that increase the rate of evaporation of a liquid, and explain why evaporation causes cooling of the remaining liquid.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 14.
Distinguish between boiling and evaporation.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 15.
A fixed mass of gas at constant volume has a pressure of 100 kPa at a temperature of 27 °C. Calculate its pressure when the temperature is increased to 127 °C.
[4 marks] - 16.
State the order, from least to greatest, in which solids, liquids and gases expand for the same rise in temperature, and describe how this property is used in a bimetallic strip.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 17.
A ray of light travelling from air into glass has an angle of incidence of 40° and an angle of refraction of 25°. Calculate the refractive index of the glass.
[3 marks] - 18.
A glass has a refractive index of 1.5. Calculate the critical angle of the glass, and explain how total internal reflection at angles greater than the critical angle allows light to travel along an optical fibre.
[4 marks] - 19.
List the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing wavelength, starting with gamma rays, and state one practical use of X-rays.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 20.
State what is meant by diffraction, and describe how the amount of diffraction of water waves passing through a gap changes as the gap width is decreased, for a constant wavelength.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 21.
A ship's echo sounder sends an ultrasound pulse towards the seabed. The reflected pulse returns to the ship after 0.80 s. Calculate the depth of water beneath the ship, given that the speed of sound in water is 1500 m/s.
[3 marks] - 22.
Describe an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal block using electrical heating, stating the key measurements needed.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 23.
State three characteristics of the image formed by a plane mirror.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 24.
Describe an experiment that shows sound cannot travel through a vacuum, and state what this shows about the nature of sound waves.
[3 marks] · no calculator - 25.
A kettle supplies 45 200 J of energy to boil away 0.020 kg of water at 100 °C. Calculate the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water.
[3 marks]