Thermal physics & heat capacity
AQA GCSE Physics revision on Thermal physics & heat capacity. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Physics 8463 specification. This bank has 17 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 17)
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Question 1
Specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise 1 kg of a substance by...
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Answer: 1
Specific heat capacity (c) units: J/(kg.C) or J/(kg.K). Water: 4200 J/kg/C (high). Iron: 450. Air: 1000. Higher c = takes more energy to heat up + holds heat longer. Why oceans regulate coastal climates - they absorb + release heat slowly. Formula: E = m c (delta)T.
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Question 2
Energy to heat 2 kg of water by 30C (c = 4200 J/kg/C)?
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Answer: 252000
E = mc(delta)T. Substitute: m = 2 kg, c = 4200, (delta)T = 30. 2 x 4200 x 30 = 252,000 J or 252 kJ. (That's why kettles use lots of energy - heating 1-2L of water from 20 to 100C needs ~340 kJ.)
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Question 3
If 2 substances absorb the same energy, the one with LOWER specific heat capacity will...
- A) Heat up MORE
- B) Heat up LESS
- C) Stay the same
- D) Cool down
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Answer: Heat up MORE
Same energy. Same mass. (delta)T = E / (m c). Smaller c -> bigger (delta)T. Why metal pans heat fast (low c), water heats slow (high c). Why a sandy beach gets hot quickly + cools quickly; the sea barely changes temperature.
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14 more questions on Thermal physics & heat capacity — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Physics spec.