DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

DSE Physics - Heat and Gases

Chap 1: Temperature and Thermometers

Curriculum and Assessment Guide

A Temperature

 Our senses are not reliable for comparing the hotness of objects. We need to
use appropriate instruments to measure their ________________.

 It is a measure of the degree of ____________ of an object.

 Temperature can be measured in ____________temperature scale. It is the

most commonly-used international temperature scale. Its unit is
______________________, written as ______.

1. Defining the Celsius temperature scale

 Temperature scales are usually defined by choosing ________ fixed

points, and dividing the range between them into a number of equal
divisions called ___________.

 The are two fixed points for the Celsius temperature scale.

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

 Lower fixed point: _____ °C - the temperature of pure _____________

________ at normal atmospheric pressure (ice point).
 Upper fixed point: _____ °C - the temperature of _________ over pure
____________ _______ at normal atmospheric pressure (steam point).
 The range between these fixed points is divided into _______ equal
divisions.
 _____________________ is an instrument to measure temperature.
Two common types of thermometer using in the laboratory are:

__________________________ ___________________
thermometers _____________

2. Calibrating a thermometer on the Celsius temperature scale

 Before temperature can be read from a thermometer conveniently,

________________________ is needed.
 An unmarked thermometer is put in pure ____________ ______ and
then in _____________ ________. The liquid level in each case is
marked and the separation between the two markings is divided into
______ equal divisions. Each division represents _________.
l − l0 T
 By proportion: = . l0 = liquid level at 0°C
l100 − l0 100
l100 = liquid level at 100°C
T = unknown temperature
l = liquid level at T°C

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

Practice

1. The liquid column of an unmarked thermometer has different lengths L at

different temperatures T. When the thermometer is

immersed in melting ice (T = 0°C), L = 3.0 cm (denoted as L0);

placed in boiling water (T = 100°C), L = 28.0 cm (denoted as L100).

(a) Draw a graph of L against T (calibration graph).

(b) When the temperature is 20°C, what is the length of the liquid column?

 Hint: For part (b), the answer could be obtained by reading the graph directly
or calculating using proportion formula.
 p.6 Eg 1

2. Regarding to the fixed points in Celsius scale, which of the following is correct?
A. The upper fixed point is the freezing point of water and the lower fixed
point is the boiling point of water.
B. The upper fixed point is the boiling point of methane and the lower fixed
point is the freezing point of methane.
C. The upper fixed point is the boiling point of water and the lower fixed point
is the freezing point of water.
D. The upper fixed point is the melting point of ice and the lower fixed point is
the freezing point of ice.

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 DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

3. A thermometer is calibrated by immersing it in turn into melting ice and boiling

water. The lengths of the liquid column are 4.2 cm and 25.8 cm respectively.
Find the temperature when the column is 17.5 cm long.

A. 19.0°C B. 38.4°C
C. 61.6°C D. 81.0°C

 4. A thermometer is calibrated by immersing it in turn into melting ice and boiling

water. The lengths of the liquid column are 5.7 cm and 28.1 cm respectively.
Find the temperature when the column is 5.2 cm long.

A. -1.8°C B. -2.2°C
C. -8.8°C D. -23.2°C

B Thermometers

1. Liquid-in-glass thermometer

 ________________ and _________________ are commonly used as

the liquid in a liquid-in-glass thermometer.

Mercury-in-glass thermometer Alcohol-in-glass thermometer

Can measure ______ temperatures Can measure ______ temperatures

(up to 357°C, the boiling point of (down to –115°C, the freezing
mercury) point of alcohol)
___________ response to ___________ response to
temperature changes temperature changes
Mercury ________ (is / is not) Alcohol ________ (is / is not)
poisonous poisonous

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

2. Liquid-in-glass thermometer

 Different types of thermometer measure temperature by making use of

different temperature-dependent properties.

Thermometer Temperature-dependent property Main use

Liquid-in-glass _____________ of liquid
thermometer
(temperature ↑, volume ___)

______________ Infra-red radiation (IR)

thermometer (temperature ↑, amount of IR emitted ___)

Rotary Curvature of the bimetallic strip

thermometer
(temperature ↑, curvature ___)

Resistance _______________ of metal coil

thermometer
(temperature ↑, resistance ___)

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

Thermistor _______________ of thermistor

thermometer
(temperature ↑, resistance ___)

Liquid crystal ___________ of liquid crystal

thermometer

3. Properties of a good thermometer

 Its property (e.g. volume, length, resistance …) increases or decreases

linearly with temperature.

 Quick response.

 Large temperature range (for liquid-in-glass thermometer: high boiling

point and low melting point.)

 Do not wet glass (for liquid-in-glass thermometer only)

Practice
5. A student calibrates an unmarked resistance thermometer in the laboratory. He
find the resistance of the wire is 98 Ω when put in melting ice and 142 Ω when
put in boiling water. When the thermometer is put into the flame of a Bunsen
burner, the resistance of the wire is 233 Ω. What is the temperature of the flame?
 p.14 Eg 2

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

6. (DSE12PP/MC1) The graphs below show how the electrical resistances R of

three different circuit elements change with temperature θ. Which of the circuit
elements can be used to measure temperature?

R/Ω R/Ω
(1) (2)

θ / °C θ / °C

R/Ω
(3)

θ / °C

A. (1) only B. (2) only C. (1) and (3) only

D. (2) and (3) only

C Temperature and Particle Motion

 We can use the ______________ _____________ to interpret temperature.

 According to this theory, all matter is made up of very tiny particles (atoms,
molecules or ions) which are constantly in motion.

State of General Movement of

Arrangement of particles
matter property particles
Solid Fixed Particles are ________ Each particle
__________ and ____________ and are __________ to and
__________ arranged in a ___________ fro about a
___________. They are held _______ position.
in position by ________
forces.

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers
Liquid Fixed Particles ________ (are / are Particles ________
__________, not) close together. They (can /cannot) move
no fixed ________ (are / are not) from one place to
________
arranged in a regular another.
pattern.
Gas No fixed Particles are ____________ Particles move at
________ and ______________________ very _________
_________ (close together / very far speeds in
apart). There is almost no _________ motion.
__________ between them.

 As an object warms up, its particles vibrate more ____________ or move

___________. As an object cools, its particles _________ _________.

T1 T2 T3
Average KE1 Average KE2 Average KE3
Total KE1 Total KE2 Total KE3

 The temperature of an object is a measure of the ___________

____________ __________ due to the motion of the particles in the object.

 Two objects will have the same temperature if the particles in each object
have the _____________ average kinetic energy.

 The average kinetic energy of the particles in an object ________________

as the temperature of the object increases.

 When the average kinetic energy decreases until it reaches the minimum
value, the temperature of the object cannot be further decreased. This
temperature is called _____________________ and is about ________ °C.

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DSE Physics Note A1 Temperature and Thermometers

Numerical answers:
1. L20 = 8 cm
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. 307 °C
6. (DSE12PP/MC1) D

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

DSE Physics - Heat and Gases

Chap 2: Heat and Internal Energy

Curriculum and Assessment Guide

A Internal energy of bodies

The forces between particles give rise to the _______________ energy of

the particles. Potential energy ______________ with the separation between
the particles.

When a body changes from liquid to gas, the separation between the
particles _______________, and so the potential energy of the particles
_______________.

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

The _______________ energy of a body is the sum of the KE and PE of all

its particles. It is the total energy stored in the body. It is measured in
_________, written as ____.

The internal energy of a body increases when

1. the temperature of the body ____________
(____________ energy of particles ↑),
2. the body changes from solid to liquid, or from liquid to gas
(_____________ energy of particles ↑),
3. the total number of particles of the body ____________.

Practice
1. (CE08/MC35) What physical properties does the temperature of an object
represent?
(1) A measure of the degree of hotness of the object.
(2) A measure of the internal energy of the object.
(3) A measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of the object.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

2. (DSE12/MC4) Which of the following descriptions is correct?

A. When water at 25°C is heated to 50°C, both the kinetic energy and potential
energy of the water molecules increase.
B. When water at 25°C is heated to 50°C, only the potential energy of the
water molecules increases.
C. When water boils at 100°C and turns into steam, the kinetic energy of the
water molecules increases.
D. When water boils at 100°C and turns into steam, the potential energy of the
water molecules increases.

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

B Heat and energy transfer

Energy can be transferred from a

hotter object to a colder object. The
energy transferred is called ________.
This process stops when both objects
reach the same _______________.

Heat is the energy transferred from

one body to another as a result of a
___________________ difference.

We use the symbol _____ to represent

heat. The unit of heat is ___________.

The process of energy transfer due to a temperature difference is called

____________.

The internal energy of a body can also be increased by doing __________.

Practice
3. (CE98/MC19) Which of the following statements about internal energy, heat and
temperature is/are true?
(1) The internal energy of a body is a measure of the total kinetic energy and
potential energy of the molecules in the body.
(2) Two bodies of the same temperature always have the same amount of
internal energy.
(3) Heat is a measure of the energy transferred from one body to another as a
result of temperature difference between the two bodies.
A. (1) only B. (2) only C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only E. (1), (2) and (3)

4. (CE95/MC18) Which of the following statements about heat is/are true?

(1) Heat is used to describe the total energy stored in a body.
(2) Heat is used to describe the energy transferred from one body to another as
a result of a temperature difference between them.
(3) A body's internal energy is increased when it is heated.
A. (1) only B. (2) only C. (1) and (3) only
D. (2) and (3) only E. (1), (2) and (3)
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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

5. (CE03/MC19) If there is no heat flow between two bodies when they are in
contact, then the two bodies must have the same
A. temperature.
B. internal energy.
C. specific heat capacity.
D. specific latent heat of vaporization.

The rate of energy transfer is called ____________.

 Q
Power = P = 
 t 

The unit of power is _________ (____). 1 W = 1 J s–1.

For more practical use, energy is usually expressed in terms of

kilowatt-hour (kWh). It is the amount of energy used by an electrical
appliance of power 1 kW in 1 hour.

1 kW h = (1000 J s–1)(60 × 60 s)
= _______________ J = ________ MJ

The electrical energy supplied to an electrical appliance can be measured

using a _______________ or a ____________________________.

Practice
6. A 1-kW electric heater is used to heat some water. How much energy is
transferred to the water if it is switched on for 5 min?
 p.29 Eg 1

7. A water heater transfers 900 kJ of energy to boil some water in 10 minutes. How
long does it take to supply 1250 kJ of energy to heat some soup?

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

C Heat capacity and specific heat capacity

1. Experiment: Relationship between energy transferred,

temperature change and mass

Objective: To find out how the energy transferred to a body by heating

is related to the temperature change and the mass of the body.

Procedure:

1. Put a heater to a cup of water. Connect the heater to the

joulemeter and then to the power supply. A _________________
is also put to measure the temperature of the water.

2. Switch on the power supply. Keep stirring the water using the
______________.

3. Record the amount of energy transferred by the heater and the

temperature change of water.

4. Repeat the experiment using different amount of water.

Precautions:

1. Immerse the heating part of the heater totally in water before

turning it on. Otherwise, the heater may overheat.

2. Keep the heating part of the heater totally immersed in water

throughout the experiment to maximize the transfer of energy to
the water.

3. Stir the water before taking the temperature reading to ensure a

uniform temperature throughout the water.

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

Q ∝ ∆T Q∝m
(for fixed m) (for fixed ∆T)

For a fixed mass, the energy transferred to a body by heating is directly

proportional to the _________________ ___________ of water.

To produce the same temperature change, the energy transferred

needed is ____________ _________________ to the __________ of
water.

The relationships are also true for other substances.

2. Heat capacity

Q and ∆T are related by

Q = C∆T or C= ,

where C is the constant called ___________ _________________.

Its unit is ___________.

The heat capacity of a body is the energy transferred by heating needed

to raise the temperature of that body through 1°C.

In other words, it gives you an idea of how hard to rise the temperature
of the body.

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3. Specific heat capacity

The __________________________________ of a substance is the

energy transferred by heating needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg
of the substance through 1 °C.

Q and ∆T are related to specific heat capacity by

Q = mc∆T or c= ,

where c is the constant called ___________ ________ _____________.

Its unit is ________________.

Comparing C with c,

C
c= or C=
m

Practice
8. Calculate the energy that should be transferred to a 2-kg copper block to raise its
temperature by 10°C. The specific heat capacity of copper is 370 J kg–1 °C–1.
 p.37 Eg 4

9. To raise 0.2 kg of water by 2°C, 1680 J of energy is required. If an aluminium

block of mass 2 kg is heated through 5°C, only 9000 J of energy is needed. What
are the specific heat capacities of water and aluminium? What are the heat
capacities of the two bodies?
 p.35 Eg 2

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10. (CE94/MC16) An equal amount of energy is supplied to each of the following

substances. Which one of them will have the smallest rise in temperature?
Substance Mass/kg Specific heat capacity /J kg-1 °C-1
A. P 1 4200
B. Q 2 2300
C. R 3 2200
D. S 4 900
E. T 5 480

11. (CE93/MC18) 16500 J of energy is supplied to a metal block of mass 0.5 kg and
its rise in temperature is 64°C. The specific heat capacity of the metal is

16500 × 0.5 16500 × 64

A. J kg-1 °C -1. B. J kg-1 °C -1.
64 0 .5
16500 16500
C. J kg-1 °C -1. D. J kg-1 °C -1.
64 × 0.5 (64 + 273) × 0.5
16500 × 0.5
E. J kg-1 °C -1.
64 + 273

12. (CE03/MC22) A student uses an electric kettle to heat 0.5 kg of water at 20°C.
The water boils in 4 minutes. Estimate the output power of the kettle. The
specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J kg-1 °C-1.

A. 175 W B. 700 W
C. 875 W D. 1400 W

13. (CE97/MC20) An immersion heater of power 100 W is used to heat 0.3 kg of a

liquid with specific heat capacity 2000 J kg-1 °C-1. If the initial temperature of the
liquid is 23°C, find its temperature after 2 minutes. Assume all the energy given
out by the heater is absorbed by the liquid.

 0.3 × 2000 × 23 × 2 
A. (0.3 × 2000 × 23) °C B.   °C
 100 
 100 × 120 × 0.3   100 × 120 
C.  + 23  °C D.  + 23  °C
 2000   0.3 × 2000 
 0.3 × 2000 
E.  + 23  °C
 100 × 120 

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

4. Experiment: Measuring the specific heat capacity of water

Objective: To measure the specific heat capacity of water.

Procedure:

1. Put a heater to a cup of water. Connect the heater to the

joulemeter and then to the power supply. A _________________
is also put to measure the temperature of the water. Measure the
mass of water using an _______________ ___________.
2. Switch on the power supply. Keep stirring the water using the
______________. Find the energy required to heat up the water
by about 10°C.
3. Apply E = mc∆T to calculate the specific heat capacity of water.

Precautions:
1. Immerse the heating part of the heater totally in water before
turning it on. Otherwise, the heater may ________________.
2. Keep the heating part of the heater totally immersed in water
throughout the experiment to maximize the transfer of energy to
the _____________.
3. Keep _______________ the water after switching off the heater to
ensure a uniform temperature throughout the water. Record the
highest temperature reached.

The standard value of c of water is ________ J kg–1 °C–1.

Energy is lost to the surroundings and is used to heat up the
polystyrene cup, the stirrer and the thermometer. Therefore the result
will be __________ than the actual value.

To improve the accuracy of the experiment, we can
________________________________________________________.

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

5. Experiment: Measuring the specific heat capacity of aluminium

Objective: To measure the specific heat capacity of aluminium.

Procedure:

1. Wrap an aluminium block with __________ __________.

2. Put a heater into an aluminium block. Connect the heater to the
joulemeter and then to the power supply. A _________________
is also put to measure the temperature of the block.
3. Find the energy required to heat up the 1-kg aluminium block by
about 10°C.
4. Apply E = mc∆T to calculate the specific heat capacity of
aluminium.

Precautions:

1. Add a few drops of _________ to the holes in the aluminium

block to ensure a good ____________ ___________ between the
heater, thermometer and block.
2. Place the aluminium block on a _______________________ to
minimize the energy lost to the bench.
3. Do not switch on the heater unless its heating part is totally
inserted into the block to prevent overheating of the heater.
4. Do not record the temperature immediately after the heater is
switched off. Instead, record the ____________ temperature
reached.

The standard value of c of aluminium is ________ J kg–1 °C–1.

Energy is lost to the surroundings and is transferred to the polystyrene
tile and the thermometer. Therefore the result will be __________ than
the actual value.
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Practice
14. (CE97/MC19) The apparatus as shown is used
to find the specific heat capacity of a liquid.
Which of the following can improve the
accuracy of the experiment?
(1) Taking the final temperature of the liquid
immediately after switching off the power
supply.
(2) Covering the cup with a lid.
(3) Stirring the liquid throughout the experiment.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only E. (1), (2) and (3)

15. (CE01/MC17)

The above apparatus is used to measure the specific heat capacity of a cylindrical
copper block. The result of the experiment is as follows:

Mass of copper block = m kg

Initial temperature = 21°C
Final temperature = 47°C
Initial joulemeter reading = R1 J
Final joulemeter reading = R2 J

Which of the following expressions gives the specific heat capacity of copper
(in J kg-1 K-1) ?
R1 − R2 R2 − R1
A. 26m( R2 − R1 ) B. C.
26m 26m
m( R1 − R2 ) m( R2 − R1 )
D. E.
26 26

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

6. Graphical analysis

Let’s study the temperature-time graph of an object under heating.

Assume the mass of the object remains unchanged.

Temperature / °C

∆y = ∆T

∆x = ∆t ( if t ↑ , then E ↑ )

Time / s

Greater slope (steeper)

 less energy can make a great change in temperature
 smaller specific heat capacity

Smaller slope (less steep)

 much more energy can only make a little change in temperature
 greater specific heat capacity

Temperature / °C

Greater slope  smaller c

Smaller slope  greater c

Time / s

Pay special attention if the x- and y-axis are interchanged.

What if there are two objects with different masses?

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Practice
16. (CE98/MC21)

The above graph shows the variation of the temperature of a liquid with time
when the liquid is heated by a 400 W heater. The mass of the liquid is 2 kg. Find
the specific heat capacity of the liquid. Assume all the energy given out by the
heater is absorbed by the liquid.
A. 83 J kg-1 °C-1 B. 480 J kg-1 °C-1
C. 1 200 J kg-1 °C-1 D. 2 400 J kg-1 °C-1
E. 12 000 J kg-1 °C-1

17. (CE99/MC16)

Equal masses of liquids X, Y and Z are separately heated. The above graph shows
the variation of the energies absorbed by the liquids with their temperatures. Let
CX, CY and CZ be the specific heat capacities of X, Y and Z respectively. Which of
the following relations is correct?
A. CX = CY >CZ B. CX = CY <CZ
C. CX > CY >CZ D. CX > CY =CZ
E. CX < CY =CZ

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

18. (CE07/MC10) Four liquids P, Q, R and S with the same mass are heated at the
same rate. The graph below shows the variation of their temperature with time.

Which liquid has the highest specific heat capacity?

A. P B. Q
C. R D. S

19. (DSE15/MC2)

Two objects X and Y are made of the same material. They are heated separately
by heaters of the same power. The graph shows the variation of temperature θ
of X and Y with time t. What is the ratio of mass of X to that of Y ?
A. 3:1 B. 2:1
C. 1:2 D. 2:3

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

D ‘Mixtures’

When two bodies of different temperatures are put in contact, energy is

transferred from the hotter body to the colder body. This transfer process
stops when they reach the same _______________. They are then said to be
in _____________ ___________________.

If there is no loss of energy to the surroundings,

energy __________ by the hotter body

= energy __________ by the colder body

This agrees with the law of conservation of energy. The total amount of
energy in a system is conserved (always constant).

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

Practice
20. A 1-kg aluminium block at 80°C is dropped into 5 kg of water at 16°C. Find the
final temperature of the ‘mixture’. Assume there is no energy lost to the
surroundings. The specific heat capacity of aluminium is 900 J kg–1 °C–1.
 p.42 Eg 7

21. (DSE12/MC1)
40ºC 30ºC
Block X Block Y

Two metal blocks X and Y of the same mass and of initial temperatures 40°C and
30°C respectively are in good thermal contact as shown. The specific heat
capacity of X is greater than that of Y. Which statement is correct when a steady
state is reached? Assume no heat loss to the surroundings.
A. The temperature of block X is higher than that of block Y.
B. Their temperature becomes the same and is lower than 35°C.
C. Their temperature becomes the same and is higher than 35°C.
D. Their temperature becomes the same and is equal to 35°C.

22. (DSE15/MC3) When an object P is in contact with another object Q, heat flows
from P to Q. P must have a higher
(1) temperature.
(2) internal energy.
(3) specific heat capacity.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only

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 DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

(For Questions 23 and 24.) The specific heat capacity of a metal is measured using
the following method:

A metal block is first immersed in boiling water for some time. The block is then
transferred to a cup of cold water. After a while, the temperature of the water is
measured.

23. (CE02/MC20) The result of the experiment is as follows:

Mass of metal block = 0.8 kg
Mass of water in the cup = 0.3 kg
Initial temperature of water in the cup = 23°C
Final temperature of water in the cup = 38°C
Find the specific heat capacity of the metal.
(Given: Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg-1 K-1.)

A. 236 J kg-1 °C-1 B. 381 J kg-1 °C-1

C. 622 J kg-1 °C-1 D. 953 J kg-1 °C-1

 24. (CE02/MC21) The result obtained in Q.20 is found to be higher than the true
value of the specific heat capacity of the metal. Which of the following is a
probable reason?
A. Some hot water is still adhered to the metal block when the block is
transferred to the cold water.
B. Some energy is lost to the surroundings when the metal block is transferred
to the cold water.
C. Some energy is absorbed by the cup.
D. The temperature of the metal block is still higher than 38oC when the final
temperature of the water in the cup is measured.

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25. (DSE12PP/MC3) Peter adds 50 g of milk at 20°C to 350 g of tea at 80°C, what is
the final temperature of the mixture?
Given : Specific heat capacity of milk = 3800 J kg–1 °C–1
Specific heat capacity of tea = 4200 J kg–1 °C–1

A. 50.0°C B. 72.5°C
C. 73.1°C D. 77.4°C

26. (DSE17/MC1) 30 g of milk at 10°C is added to 120 g of coffee at 80°C.

Assuming there is no heat loss to the surroundings, what is the final temperature
of the mixture?
Given : specific heat capacity of milk = 3800 J kg−1 °C−1
specific heat capacity of coffee = 4200 J kg−1 °C−1

A. 64.8°C B. 65.2°C
C. 66.0°C D. 67.1°C

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

E Importance of high specific heat capacity of water

The high specific heat capacity of water (4200 J kg–1 °C–1) allows it to
absorb or release a large amount of __________ without a great change in
_________________.

Water is use as a ______________ in motor cars, power stations and large

air-conditioning systems.

Water can regulate our body temperature.

The daily temperature difference in coastal areas is much ___________ than

inland areas of the same latitude.

Practice
27. (CE96/MC18) Which of the following phenomena concerning water can be
explained by its high specific heat capacity?
(1) Water is used as a coolant in car engines.
(2) Inland areas generally have hotter summers and colder winters than coastal
areas of similar latitude and altitude.
(3) The body temperature of human beings changes slowly even when the
surrounding temperature changes sharply.
A. (2) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (1) and (3) only E. (1), (2) and (3)

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DSE Physics Note A2 Heat and Internal Energy

Numerical answers:
1. (CE08/MC35) B (61%); MFD = D (13%)
2. (DSE12/MC4) D (70%); MFD = C (17%)
3. (CE98/MC19) C
4. (CE95/MC18) D
5. (CE03/MC19) A (67%); MFD = B (22%)
6. Q = 300000 J
7. t = 13.9 mins
8. Q = 7400 J
9. cwater = 4200 J kg-1 °C-1; cAl = 900 J kg-1 °C-1
Cwater = 840 J °C-1; CAl = 1800 J °C-1
10. (CE94/MC16) C
11. (CE93/MC18) C
12. (CE03/MC22) B (74%); MFD = A (13%)
13. (CE97/MC20) D
14. (CE97/MC19) D
15. (CE01/MC17) C; MFD = B (8%)
16. (CE98/MC21) C
17. (CE99/MC16) D
18. (CE07/MC10) C (64%); MFD = D (19%)
19. (DSE15/MC2) C (65%); MFD = B (23%)
20. T = 18.6 °C
21. (DSE12/MC1) C (63%); MFD = D (21%)
22. (DSE15/MC3) A (68%); MFD = C (27%)
23. (CE02/MC20) B (56%); MFD = C (19%)
24. (CE02/MC21) A (19%); MFD = B (50%)
25. (DSE12PP/MC3) C
26. (DSE17/MC1) D (86%); MFD = A (5%)
27. (CE96/MC18) E

A2 - P. 20 / 20
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

DSE Physics - Heat and Gases

Chap 3: Change of State

Curriculum and Assessment Guide

A Melting and freezing, boiling and condensing

1. Three states of matter

Matter exists in three states: ___________, ___________ and

___________.

The change of state of water is shown below.

fusion vaporization
ice water steam
solidification condensation
at freezing point at boiling point

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

2. Cooling curve of octadecan-1-ol

Objective: To study the temperature change of octadecan-1-ol when it

cools and solidifies.

Set-up and procedure:

1. Melt some octadecan-1-ol using a water bath.

2. Remove the water bath, and use a thermometer (or temperature

sensor) to record the temperature of octadecan-1-ol every minute
until it falls to about 45°C.

3. Plot the cooling curve of temperature against time.

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

A cooling curve consists of three parts:

In region AB:

1. Octadecan-1-ol exists in ____________ state.

2. The temperature of octadecan-1-ol is _____________ than the
room temperature, energy flows to the surroundings, and so its
energy decreases
3. This energy is come from its molecular ______________ energy,
and hence temperature ________________.

In region BC:

1. Both ____________ and ____________ states exist.

2. Energy still flows to the surroundings, but the temperature
remains constant.
3. The released energy does not come from the molecular kinetic
energy, but the intermolecular ______________ energy, called
latent heat.
4. Since the temperature is independent of the latent heat, it remains
constant even when state changes

In region CD:

1. Octadecan-1-ol exists in ____________ state.

2. The temperature of octadecan-1-ol is _____________ than the
room temperature, energy flows to the surroundings, and so its
energy decreases
3. This energy is come from its molecular ______________ energy,
and hence temperature ________________.

The freezing point of octadecan-1-ol is read from stage _______ of the

curve.

The freezing point obtained from the curve is _________.

Heat A3 - P. 3 / 24
 DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

Practice
1.

Figure (a) Figure (b)

(CE05/MC9) When Joanne gets off from an air-conditioned bus in the summer,
her glasses become misty (see (Figure (a)). After a while, the glasses, become
clear again (see Figure (b)). Which of the following physical processes are
involved in the above phenomena?
A. condensation followed by evaporation
B. condensation followed by fusion
C. solidification followed by evaporation
D. solidification followed by fusion

 2. (CE08/MC11) Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(1) Energy transfers from an object with higher internal energy to an object
with lower internal energy.
(2) An object must absorb energy when it changes its state.
(3) Energy transfers from an object with higher temperature to an object with
lower temperature.
A. (2) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (1) and (3) only

3. (CE01/MC18) The figure shows the cooling curve of a

substance which is initially in the liquid state. The
temperature of the substance remains unchanged during the
period PQ. Which of the following statements about the
substance during the period PQ is/are correct?
(1) The substance is not losing any energy to the surroundings.
(2) Latent heat is absorbed by the substance.
(3) The potential energy of the molecules of the substance is decreasing.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only E. (1), (2) and (3)
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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

B Latent heat and specific latent heat

1. Latent heat

Energy is given out when a substance changes from gas to liquid or

from liquid to solid without a change in ________________. The
energy given out is called ____________ ____________.

releases absorbs
__________________ __________________
__________________ __________________

releases absorbs
__________________ __________________
__________________ __________________

2. Latent heat and particle motion

In the view of kinetic theory, when a substance changes from, say,

solid to liquid, the regular arrangement of its particles changes and the
particles can move around.

Energy has to be supplied to oppose the attractive forces among the

particles ⇒ PE of the particles _____________.

The ________________ energy of the particles remains unchanged, so

the _________________ remains unchanged.

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

4. (DSE17/MC3) Which of the following statements about the internal energy of a

substance are correct?
(1) When a solid melts, the latent heat of fusion absorbed becomes potential
energy of the molecules in the substance.
(2) When a vapour condenses, its internal energy decreases.
(3) When a liquid evaporates, the internal energy of the remaining liquid
increases.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

5. (DSE18/MC3) Milk at 5 °C is added to a cup of tea at 25 °C. Which statements

below are correct? Neglect the heat capacity of the cup and assume that there is
no heat exchange with the surroundings.
(1) The average kinetic energy of the water molecules in the tea decreases.
(2) The average potential energy of the water molecules in the tea remains
unchanged.
(3) The energy lost by the tea equals the energy gained by the milk.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

Heat A3 - P. 6 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

3. Specific latent heat

The specific latent heat of a substance is the energy transferred by
heating to change the state of 1 kg of the substance without a change in
______________.

The symbol for specific latent heat is ______.

The specific latent heat l for a substance of mass m is given by
Q
l= or Q = ml
m
The unit of l is __________.

Practice
6. (CE04/MC19) The following set-up is used to measure l v , the specific latent
heat of vaporization of a liquid. The result of the experiment is as follows:

to kW h meter and

power supply
immersion heater

beaker

liquid

electronic balance

Initial reading of the balance = 1.60 kg

Final reading of the balance = 1.45 kg
Energy supplied as measured by the kW h meter = 0.10 kW h
Find the measured value of l v .
A. 2.25 × 105 J kg-1
B. 2.48 × 105 J kg-1
C. 2.40 × 106 J kg-1
D. 6.67 × 106 J kg-1

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

7. (CE07/MC8)

In an experiment, 2 kg of water at 20°C is heated inside a boiler for 20 minutes.

Water is boiled to 100°C and 1.7 kg of water remains after boiling. What is the
estimated power of the boiler?
Given: Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg-1 °C-1
Specific latent heat of vapourization of water = 2.26×106 J kg –1

A. 565 W B. 649 W
C. 1125 W D. 3762 W

8. (CE91/MC18)

A 400 W electric heater is used to heat 0.4 kg of a solid. The temperature-time

graph of the substance is shown above. The specific latent heat of fusion of the
substance is

A. 64 kJ kg-1 . B. 160 kJ kg-1 . C. 400 kJ kg-1 .

D. 500 kJ kg-1 . E. 600 kJ kg-1 .

Heat A3 - P. 8 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

4. Specific latent heat of fusion of ice

Objective: To measure the specific latent heat of fusion of ice.

Set-up and procedure:

1. Set up the apparatus as shown. Fill both funnels with roughly

equal amounts of crushed melting ice.
2. Switch on the heater for a period of time.
3. Calculate the mass of ice melted by the heater. Read the
joulemeter to measure the energy supplied to the heater.

4. Apply E = ml f to find the specific latent heat of fusion of ice

from the results.

Possible sources of error include:
1. Energy is absorbed by the from the _________________.
2. Energy from the heater is lost to the __________________.
3. The temperature of ice is not 0°C.
4. Water dripping down the two funnels at different ___________.

Precautions:
1. It is necessary to set up a control experiment because the ice also
absorbs energy from the surroundings.
2. Immerse the heater completely into the ice.

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

3. Ice should be crushed to increase the contact area with the heater.

4. Melting ice is used so that it is at 0°C and no energy is used to

raise its temperature before melting.
5. Before switching on the heater, pack the crushed ice in the two
funnels so that the drip rates are steady and about the same.
6. After switching off the heater, do not remove the beakers; wait
until the drip rates have become steady and about the same.
7. A small piece of wire gauze or steel wool at the neck of the
funnels can prevent the crushed ice from dropping into the
beakers directly.

The specific latent heat of fusion lf of ice is the energy needed to
change 1 kg of ice to water without a change in temperature. It is equal
to 3.34 × 105 J kg-1.

Practice
9. (CE98/MC20)

The above set-up can be used to find the specific latent heat of fusion of ice.
Which of the following is not an essential precaution to ensure an accurate
result?
A. using crushed ice in the experiment
B. using melting ice in the experiment
C. inserting the immersion heater into the ice completely
D. using the same amount of ice in both funnels
E. covering the funnels with lids

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

10. Calculate the energy required to melt 1 kg of ice at –4°C to water at 25°C.
Given: The specific heat capacity of ice = 2100 J kg–1 °C–1
The specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg–1 °C–1
The specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg–1
 p.63 Eg 2

5. Specific latent heat of vaporization of water

Objective: To measure the specific latent heat of vaporization of water.

Set-up and procedure:

heater
kilowatt-hour
meter

electronic
balance

1. Set up the apparatus as shown.

2. Take the reading from the electronic balance after the water boils.
3. Wait until the water becomes steady after the heater is turned off
and take the final reading of the balance.
4. Calculate the energy supplied from the kilowatt-hour meter and
the mass of water boiled away from the readings of the balance.
5. Apply E = ml v to find the specific latent heat of vaporization of
water from the results.

Possible sources of error include:
1. Energy is lost to the ___________________.
2. Steam condensing on the heater _________ _________ into the
cup.
Heat A3 - P. 11 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

Possible precautions include:

1. Use a thermally insulating cup, or wrap the cup with cotton wool.
2. Do not switch on the heater unless the heating part is totally
immersed in water. Overheating may damage the heater.

The specific latent heat of vaporization lv of water is the energy

needed to change 1 kg of water to steam without a change in
temperature. It is equal to 2.26 × 106 J kg-1.

Practice
11. (CE99/MC17)

The above apparatus is used to find the specific latent heat of vaporization of a
liquid. Which of the following can improve the accuracy of the experiment?
A. wrapping the beaker with cotton wool
B. covering the beaker with a lid
C. stirring the liquid throughout the experiment
D. using shorter wires to connect the heater and the power supply
E. setting up a control experiment with the heater not connected to the power
supply

12. (DSE13/MC2) In an experiment to measure the specific latent heat of

vaporization of water, a beaker of water is boiled off using an electric heater.
Which of the following sources of error would lead to an experimental result
smaller than the standard value?
A. Energy is lost to the surroundings.
B. Water splashes out of the beaker.
C. Steam condenses on the cooler part of the heater and drops back to the
beaker.
D. The heater is not completely immersed in water.

Heat A3 - P. 12 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

6. Solving problems involving latent heat

The figure shows the energy involved in heating 1 kg of water from
_________ state to _________ state.

Practice
13. Calculate the energy required to change 1 kg of ice at 0 °C to steam at 100 °C.
Given: The specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg–1 °C–1
The specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg–1
The specific latent heat of vaporization of water = 2.26 × 106 J kg–1

14. If 0.05 kg of ice at 0°C is added into 0.15 kg of hot

water at 85°C. Calculate the final temperature of the
‘mixture’. Assume there is no energy lost to the
surroundings.
 p.67 Eg 6

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

15. (CE01/MC16) A melting ice block of mass 0.05 kg is mixed with x kg of water at
0°C in a well-insulated container. If 25000 J of energy is supplied to the mixture,
the mixture changes to water at 4°C. Find the value of x.
Given: specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg-1,
specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg-1 K-1.

A. 0.37 B. 0.44 C. 0.49

D. 1.44 E. 1.49

16. (CE06/MC12) The initial temperature of a jar of juice is 80°C and the mass of
the juice is 2 kg. Susan adds ice cubes into the jar in order to cool down the juice
to 20°C. What is the minimum number of ice cubes at 0°C required? (Neglect the
heat capacity of the jar and assume there is no heat exchange with the
surroundings.)
Given: Mass of each ice cube = 0.15 kg
Specific heat capacity of juice = 4700 J kg-1 °C-1
Specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg-1 °C-1
Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg-1

A. 9 B. 10
C. 11 D. 12

Heat A3 - P. 14 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

17. (DSE14/MC2)

An electric heater of constant power is used to heat a solid substance X which is

insulated from the surroundings. The variation of its temperature θ with time t is
shown above. X has a specific heat capacity of 800 J kg−1 °C−1 in its solid state.
What is the specific latent heat of fusion of X ?
A. 144 kJ kg−1
B. 192 kJ kg−1
C. 202 kJ kg−1
D. Answer cannot be found as both the mass of X and the power of the heater
are not known.

18. (DSE16/MC2) 0.3 kg of water at temperature 50°C is mixed with 0.2 kg of ice at
temperature 0°C in an insulated container of negligible heat capacity. What is
the final temperature of the mixture?
Given : specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg−1 oC−1
specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg−1

A. −1.8 °C B. 0 °C
C. 1.8 °C D. 3.0 °C

Heat A3 - P. 15 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

19. (DSE19/LQ1a)
An insulated container of negligible heat capacity contains 1.5 kg of tea at a
temperature of 60 °C.

(i) What mass of ice at 0 °C should be added to the tea so that the final
temperature of the mixture is lowered to 10 °C ? Assume that the specific
heat capacity of tea is the same as that of water. (3 marks)
Given: specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg–1
specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg–1 °C–1

(ii) If the heat capacity of the container is not negligible, explain whether more
ice, less ice or the same amount of ice is needed to obtain the final
temperature of 10 °C. (2 marks)

Heat A3 - P. 16 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

20. (CE06/MC11) A substance X is heated at a constant rate and its changing

temperature over a time period is recorded. The data are plotted below.

Which of the following statements about the substance X is incorrect?

A. X is in liquid state at 0°C.
B. The boiling point of X is 80°C.
C. The specific heat capacity of X in the solid state is smaller than that of X in
the gas state.
D. The specific latent heat of fusion of X is larger than the specific latent heat
of vaporization of X.

21. (CE04/MC18)
temperature
P
Q
room Q

temperature P

0 time

The graph shows the variation in temperature of equal masses of two substances
P and Q when they are separately heated by identical heaters. Which of the
following deductions is correct?
A. The melting point of P is lower than that of Q.
B. The specific heat capacity of P in solid state is larger than that of Q.
C. The specific latent heat of fusion of P is larger than that of Q.
D. The energy required to raise the temperature of P from room temperature to
boiling pointing is more than that of Q.

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DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

22. (CE02/MC19)

A certain amount of crushed solid is heated and the variation of its temperature
with time is shown above. If the same heater is used to heat a smaller amount of
the solid, which of the following graphs (in dash lines) best shows the variation
of the temperature of the solid?

Heat A3 - P. 18 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

23. (DSE17/MC2) Same mass of solids P and Q are heated at the same rate. The
temperature-time graphs of the two substances are shown below.

Which of the following comparisons about their melting points and specific
latent heats of fusion is correct?
higher melting point larger specific latent heat of fusion
A. P P
B. P Q
C. Q P
D. Q Q

Heat A3 - P. 19 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

B Evaporation

Liquid can change to vapour at temperatures lower than the __________

point. This process is known as ___________________.

Evaporation is different from boiling:

Evaporation Boiling
Temperature to
occur

Place to occur

Any bubbles
formed?

Energy source

1. Cooling effect of evaporation

For evaporation, since the energy required is taken from the liquid
itself or its surroundings, the temperature of the liquid or its
surroundings _____________. Therefore, evaporation produces a
________________ effect.

Heat A3 - P. 20 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

Practice
24. A person is wearing a wet shirt. There is 0.1 kg of water on the shirt in total.
(a) How much energy is required to evaporate the water?
(b) Where is the energy required taken from?
Specific latent heat of vaporization of water = 2.26 × 106 J kg–1.
 p.73 Eg 8

25. (DSE13/MC1) Which of the following statements about boiling and evaporation
of a liquid is/are correct?
(1) A liquid absorbs energy when it boils but does not absorb energy when it
evaporates.
(2) Boiling occurs at a definite temperature while evaporation takes place above
room temperature.
(3) Boiling occurs throughout the liquid while evaporation only takes place at
the liquid’s surface.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only

Heat A3 - P. 21 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

2. Evaporation and particle motion

In particle view, those particles on the liquid surface may gain enough
_____________ energy to escape into the space above the liquid. They
will become particles of vapour. Therefore evaporation occurs on the
surface of a liquid.

liquid
surface

The remaining particles have a ________ (lower/higher) average KE

and therefore the liquid will have a ________ (lower/higher)
temperature. This explains why evaporation produces a cooling effect.

3. Factors affecting evaporation

Factors affecting the rate of evaporation in the case of water.

1. Temperature of water:
temperature ↑ ⇒ rate of evaporation ____
2. Surface area of water:
surface area ↑ ⇒ rate of evaporation ____
3. Density of vapour:
density of vapour ↑ (more humid) ⇒ rate of evaporation ____
4. Movement of vapour:
with breeze (windy) ⇒ rate of evaporation ____

4. Condensation – the opposite of evaporation

Vapour condenses more readily at ____________ temperatures.

When water vapour condenses, latent heat of ____________________

is _____________.

Heat A3 - P. 22 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

Practice
26. Explain how an air cooler works and state its best working condition.

 p.78 Eg 10

Air is drawn in the cooler by the fan. The pad becomes damped when it passes
the water tank. The water on the pad absorbs energy from the incoming air.
Therefore it evaporates and produces a ______________ effect. The cool moist
air is then blown out from the cooler. The cooler works best when the air is
________ and the humidity is _________.

27. (CE07/MC34) Which of the following statements about evaporation are correct?
(1) Evaporation occurs only on the surface of the liquid.
(2) The rate of evaporation is higher when the temperature is higher.
(3) After evaporation, the average kinetic energy of the remaining liquid
molecules will increase.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

28. (DSE12/MC2) When a patient’s arm is wiped by a piece of cotton soaked with
alcohol, the wiped area will feel cool as that patch of alcohol on the skin
evaporates. Which statement explains this phenomenon?
A. The evaporation of alcohol absorbs heat from the patient’s arm.
B. The alcohol on the skin releases latent heat to the surrounding air.
C. The motion of all the molecules in the patch of alcohol slows down.
D. Air molecules remove heat from the patch of alcohol by conduction.

Heat A3 - P. 23 / 24
DSE Physics Note A3 Change of State

Numerical answers:
1. (CE05/MC9) Ans = A (87%); MFD = B (7%)
2. (CE08/MC11) Ans = B (64%)
3. (CE01/MC18) Ans = B; MFD = D (33%)
4. (DSE17/MC3) Ans = A (68%); MFD = B (11%)
5. (DSE18/MC3) Ans = D (64%); MFD = B (24%)
6. (CE04/MC19) Ans = C (55%); MFD = D (25%)
7. (CE07/MC8) Ans = C (70%); MFD = D (13%)
8. (CE91/MC18) Ans = C
9. (CE98/MC20) Ans = E
10. Q = 447 400 J
11. (CE99/MC17) Ans = A
12. (DSE13/MC2) Ans = B (49%); MFD = C (24%)
13. Q = 3 014 000 J
14. T = 43.9 °C
15. (CE01/MC16) Ans = B; MFD = C (29%)
16. (CE06/MC12) Ans = A (55%); MFD = C (16%)
17. (DSE14/MC2) Ans = A (55%); MFD = D (24%)
18. (DSE16/MC2) Ans = B (39%); MFD = A (26%)
19. (a)(i) 0.838 kg; (ii) more ice
20. (CE06/MC11) Ans = D (67%); MFD = C (20%)
21. (CE04/MC18) Ans = B (51%); MFD = D (25%)
22. (CE02/MC19) Ans = C (69%); MFD = D (13%)
23. (DSE17/MC2) Ans = C (88%); MFD = D (5%)
24. (a) Q = 226 000 J
25. (DSE13/MC1) Ans = B (54%); MFD = D (37%)
26. --
27. (CE07/MC34) Ans = A (69%); MFD = D (15%)
28. (DSE12/MC2) Ans = A (81%); MFD = B (12%)

Heat A3 - P. 24 / 24
DSE Physics Note A4 Heat Transfer Processes

DSE Physics - Heat and Gases

Chap 4: Heat Transfer Processes

Curriculum and Assessment Guide

We’ve learnt that heat is the energy transferred from on body to another as a result of
a __________________ difference. Heat always flows from regions of __________
temperature to regions of __________ temperature. But how?

A Conduction
1. Conduction in solids, liquids and gases

 Conduction is the transfer of heat from the __________ part to the

__________ part of an object, or from a __________ object to a
__________ object in contact with each other.

Food is conducted through the

pan to the food

Heat A4 - P. 1 / 21
DSE Physics Note A4 Heat Transfer Processes

 Experiment to demonstrate the conduction of heat:

 Procedures:
 Stick several drawing pins along a copper rod with wax.
 Heat one end of the rod.

 Result and explanation:

 the pins drop one by one starting with the one ______________ to
the heat source.
 Heat is gradually transferred from the heated end (________ part)
to the other end (________ part) along the rod.

 Metal are good ________________ of heat. They conduct heat much

____________ than non-metals.

 Non-metallic solids, liquids and gases are poor conductors, or good

_______________.

 Air is a very poor ________________ of heat. Foam has a lot of small

holes that trap _________ and therefore is also a very poor
_______________.

 The ______________ contains no matter. Conduction cannot take

place in it.

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DSE Physics Note A4 Heat Transfer Processes

2. Examples of conduction and insulation

 Cooking
 Cooking utensils are mainly made of
_________ ____________ such as
metal. so that heat can be transferred
from the stove to the food effectively.
 On the other hand, their handles are
usually made of ___________
conductors like plastic and wood.

 Maintaining temperature
 We can keep warm by insulation. For
example, down jackets trap ______ which
is a _________ conductor of heat.
Therefore, heat is transferred from our
body to the surroundings __________.
 Some animals keep themselves warm by
insulation as well. Besides having a layer
of fat beneath their skin, these animals
usually have hair or feather that traps air.
 Both fat and air are _________ conductor
of heat, they conduct energy away from the
body very __________.

 Building
 We may maintain the room temperature in a building by reducing
heat gain or heat lost by conduction through the walls or ceiling.
 Foam has a lot of small holes that
trap _______, so it is a poor
conductor.
 The foam boards can reduce the
heat __________ in summer or the
heat __________ in winter due to
conduction.

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DSE Physics Note A4 Heat Transfer Processes

 More daily life examples

 Foam is a _________ ___________. Foam box can reduce the
heat ____________ (gain / loss) from the hot food to the
surroundings due to conduction.
 The foam layer of the silvery packets for snowy mooncake (冰皮
月餅) reduce the heat ___________ from the _______________
to the _______________ due to conduction.

 A metal surface feels colder than a wooden surface because metal

is a ________ _____________, it conducts energy away from us
more ____________ (quickly/slowly) and makes us feel colder.

3. Conduction and particle motion

 Recall the structure of an atom:

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 In solids, the atoms are __________ packed in a ___________ pattern.

They can ___________ about their fixed positions.

 When one part of a solid is heated, the atoms in that part will
___________ ___________ and have higher __________ energy.

 They ________ the ___________ neighbouring atoms, making them

vibrate more _____________. The average _______ and temperature
of the neighbouring parts is therefore increased.

 In general, ___________ conduct heat much faster than other solids.

This is because they have a high density of ________
______________. During heating, the free electrons collide frequently
with neighbouring atoms. This makes the conduction of heat
___________ (faster/slower).

 Non-metallic liquids and gases are __________ conductors of heat. In

liquids and gases, atoms are not strongly held together. The vibration
of atoms in hotter part cannot be passed on effectively. Therefore both
liquids and gases have a very ________ rate of conduction of heat.

 Gas molecules are very far apart and therefore __________ likely to
collide with other molecules. Therefore, the conduction of heat in gas
is the ____________ efficient.

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Practice
1.

Explain why the body of a wok is made of metal and the handle of wok is made
of wood.

The body of the wok is made of metal because it is a _________ conductor of

heat. Heat is transferred from the stove to the work and then to the food
___________. (~OR~ It speeds up the heat flow from ……) Therefore, the food
can be cooked quickly.

The handle of the wok is made of wood because it is a ________ ___________ of

heat. Heat is transferred from the handle to the hand ___________. (~OR~ It
slows down the heat flow from ……) Therefore, our hand will not get hurt.

2. Explain why a metal railing feels colder than a wooden railing even if they have
the same temperature.

Metal is a _________ ____________ of heat. Heat is transferred from the

__________ to the __________ ___________. Therefore, our hand feels cold.
(~OR~ It speeds up the heat flow from ……)

Wood is a _________ ____________ of heat. Heat is transferred from the

__________ to the __________ ___________. Therefore, our hand feels warm.
(~OR~ It slows down the heat flow from ……)

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3. (CE05/MC8)

Cynthia places a carpet on a tile floor. After a while, she stands in bare feet with
one foot on the tile floor and the other on the carpet as shown above. She feels
that the tile floor is colder than the carpet. Which of the following best explains
this phenomenon?
A. The tile is a better insulator of heat than the carpet.
B. The tile is at a lower temperature than the carpet.
C. The specific heat capacity of the tile is smaller than that of the carpet.
D. Energy transfers from Cynthia’s foot to the tile at a greater rate than that to
the carpet.

4. (CE06/MC10) A space shuttle is covered by ‘heat shields’ over its body so as to

protect the interior from getting too hot while entering the atmosphere of the
Earth. Which of the following thermal properties is/are desirable for the material
of the ‘heat shields’?
(1) It should be a good conductor of heat.
(2) It should have a very high melting point.
(3) It should have high specific heat capacity.
A. (1) only B. (3) only C. (1) and (2) only
D. (2) and (3) only

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5. (DSE14/MC1)

Two identical scoops of ice-cream are transferred from a refrigerator into paper
cup X and vacuum flask Y shown above. Under room temperature, the time
required for the ice-cream in the containers to melt completely is tX and tY
respectively. What is the expected result and explanation?
A. tX > tY as the vacuum flask reduces heat loss to the surroundings.
B. tX > tY as the vacuum flask retains the heat.
C. tY > tX as the vacuum flask keeps things cold by releasing heat into the
surroundings.
D. tY > tX as the vacuum flask reduces the rate of heat gain from the
surroundings.

6. (DSE18/MC2) In some countries, the outdoor temperature can drop below 0 °C

in winter such that the lake surface becomes a thick layer of ice. However, the
water beneath the ice surface does not easily turn into ice and most aquatic life
can survive during winter time.

Which statement below best explains this phenomenon?

A. The layer of ice provides good heat insulation.
B. The freezing point of water below the ice surface is much lower than 0 °C.
C. There is thermal energy transferred from the soil to the water in the lake.
D. Ice releases latent heat when it melts.

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B Convection
 Liquids and gases are usually poor conductors. But this does not mean heat
transfer cannot occur in them

1. Convection in liquids and gases

 Convection is the process of heat transfer through a fluid (a ________

or a ________) by the flow of the fluid itself. The flow of the fluid is
called the __________________.

 Experiment 1 to demonstrate of convection of heat:

 Procedures:
 Put a purple crystal aside in a beaker of water.
 Gently warm the water near the crystal with a Bunsen flame.

 Result and explanation:

 Heated water ___________ and becomes _______ __________
than the surrounding region.
 Hot water ___________ due to its ____________ density.
 The cooler water in the surrounding region moves in to replace
the hot water.
 A convection current is formed.

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 Experiment 2 to demonstrate of convection of heat:

 Procedures:
 Arrange candle, a beaker and cardboard as shown.
 Light the candle and hold a burning incense stick on the other side
of the cardboard.

 Result and explanation:

 The hot gases (air and smoke) around the candle expand, become
less dense and ____________.
 The cooler gases on the other side of the cardboard move down to
replace the hot gases.
 A convection current is formed.

2. Examples of convection

 A candle flames always point ______________ due to the convection

current of air

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 As hot fluid ________ and cool fluid ________, a convection heater is

usually placed on the _______________ while an air-conditioner is
usually set up ________ on the wall to set up a convection current
round the room effectively.

 The heating element of an electric kettle is usually installed at the

______________ of the kettle.

 Land and sea breezes over the coast are caused by convection current.
During the day, the sun heats up the land more quickly than the sea.
Warm air above the land rises and cool air blows in from the sea. A
_________ breeze is produced during the day.

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 The lid limits the flow of _________ inside the cup. This reduces the
heat loss to the surroundings due to convection.

Practice
7.

A smoke detector can sense smoke from a fire and trigger an alarm. Where
should a smoke detector be fixed in a room? Explain your answer.

The smoke detector should be fixed to the floor / wall / ceiling. The hot smoke
produced by a fire ___________ and becomes _______ __________ than the
surrounding region, so the hot smoke ___________ and accumulates at the
__________ of a room.

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8. (CE10/MC9)

A paper tray contains some water. The tray is heated by a gentle flame from
below as shown. The water in the tray starts to boil while the paper does not
catch fire. Which of the following statements are correct in this situation?
(1) Water can transfer heat away from the paper tray very quickly.
(2) Water remains at 100°C when it is boiling.
(3) There is no heat transfer between the paper tray and the flame.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (2) and (3) only C. (1) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

C Radiation

1. Radiation with and without medium

 Radiation is a process of heat transfer which does not require any

______________ or particles. It takes place in _______________
direction.

 The heater emits radiation ( ____________ radiation) in all directions.

 Radiation travels through the air.
 The hand ______________ the radiation directly and gains energy
to get warm.

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 The type of radiation emitted by an object depends on its

____________________.

 Heater emits primarily infra-red radiation. If its temperature increases,

it will emit ____________ infra-red radiation, or even start to emit
visible light.

2. Factors affecting the emission and absorption of radiation

 Everything is both an _______________ and a _______________ of

radiation.

 The rate of emission and absorption of radiation depends on:

 the temperature difference between the object and the

____________________

 ______________ of the surface

 ______________ area

 Consider an object at temperature T being put in surroundings at

temperature Ts.

Comparing T and Ts Net flow of energy of the object

T  Ts net __________ (gain / loss)

T = Ts net flow = ______

T < Ts net __________ (gain / loss)

 Temperature difference   rate of net energy radiated or absorbed 

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 Dull black surfaces are _______ absorbers and ________ radiators of

radiation. Shiny and light coloured surfaces are _______ absorbers and
_______ radiators of radiation.

Has a higher temperature Has a lower temperature

than the surroundings than the surroundings

Dull-black
surface

Silvery
surface

Practice
9. The following flasks contain the same amount of boiling water initially. One of
the flasks is painted dull black and the other silvery.

(a) Explain which thermometer measures a lower temperature after 10 minutes.

(b) If the water is removed and two identical ice cubes are put into the flasks,
which ice cube will melt first?

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3. Examples of heat transfer by radiation

 Surfaces in shiny and ____________ colour can help maintain a stable

temperature.

Foam container Fuel storage tank

 reduce heat loss  reduce heat gain

 Surface in dull and ____________ colour can help dissipate heat to

cooler surroundings.

Car engine

 It can also help absorb heat from hotter surroundings or from the sun.

Solar panels Solar street lights

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 A vacuum flask (or thermos) keeps food hot or cold by reducing the
heat transfer between the food and the environment through
conduction, convection and radiation.

Plastic or cork stopper reduces

heat loss by ___________ and
Plastic cap reduces heat ____________.
loss by ___________
and ____________. Light-coloured outer case reduces
heat loss by ___________ and
____________.

Silvery glass or stainless steel

walls reduces heat loss by
___________.

Vacuum between the double walls

reduces heat loss by ___________
and ____________.

Insulated support reduces heat loss

by ___________.

 A vacuum cooker also works on the same principle. It consists of a

_______________ inner pot and an _______________ outer pot.

 The inner pot is made of stainless steel

and aluminium to ensure good
conduction.

 The outer pot is a stainless steel

thermos (with a vacuum layer).

 Food is first cooked using the inner

pot. It is then put into the insulated
outer pot to keep the food hot without
heating.

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 A greenhouse keeps its

interior warm for growing
plants.

(1) _____________ radiation from the sun cannot pass through the glass
of the greenhouse.

(2) Other radiation can partially enter the greenhouse. The objects inside
______________ the radiation and become warm.

(3) The warm objects radiate __________, mostly in form of

_____________ radiation.

(4) The infra-red radiation can / cannot pass through the glass and is
______________ inside the greenhouse.

Practice
10. The figure shows a solar cooker. It
is designed to heat up food by
sunlight. What kind of material
should the cover and the case be
made of? What should be the
colours of the cover, the inner wall
and outer wall of the case?

material colour why?

cover

inner wall

outer wall

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11. (CE06/MC9)

The figure shows a vacuum flask with two glass walls. Which of the following
statements are correct?
(1) The surfaces P and Q are painted silvery to reduce heat loss.
(2) The cork stopper reduces heat loss by conduction and convection.
(3) The vacuum between the double glass walls reduces heat loss by radiation.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

12. (DSE15/MC1) A driver turns off the engine after parking his car outdoors under
the sun. Two hours later when getting into the car, he feels that the inside of the
car is far hotter than outside. The best explanation is
A. the car’s engine is still generating heat after the engine has been switched
off.
B. the car’s metal parts absorb infra-red radiation at a faster rate than the
surroundings.
C. the glass windows of the car trap infra-red radiation and a greenhouse effect
results.
D. the surrounding air is a good insulator of heat which reduces heat loss by
conduction.

13. (DSE16/MC1) Some icy cold liquid is kept cold inside a vacuum flask. Which
statements are correct?
(1) The flask’s cork stopper reduces heat gain from the surroundings.
(2) The silver coating on the inner surface of the glass wall is a good reflector
of infra-red.
(3) The vacuum between the double glass walls reduces heat gain by radiation.
A. (1) and (2) only B. (1) and (3) only C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3)

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14. (DSE19/LQ1b) Some ice cream at -10 °C is put into a ‘thermal bag’, of which
the inner layer is made of polyethylene foam coated with aluminium foil. The
bag is also equipped with a zipper at the top.

The thermal bag is then brought outdoors on a hot sunny day.

(i) Referring to the heat transfer processes, explain ONE feature of this bag that
helps keep the ice cream at a low temperature. (1 mark)
(ii) Suggest ONE modification to this bag that would enhance its ability to keep
things stored inside at a low temperature. (1 mark)

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MC / Numerical answers:
1. --
2. --
3. (CE05/MC8) Ans = D (49%); MFD = C (20.7%)
4. (CE06/MC10) Ans = D (84%); MFD = C (7%)
5. (DSE14/MC1) Ans = D (83%); MFD = A (10%)
6. (DSE18/MC2) Ans = A (55%); MFD = C (31%)
7. --
8. (CE10/MC9) Ans = A (76%)
9. --
10. --
11. (CE06/MC9) Ans = A (48%); MFD = D (29%)
12. (DSE15/MC1) Ans = C (66%); MFD = B (28%)
13. (DSE16/MC1) Ans = A (59%); MFD = D (16%)
14. --

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