Easy Questions

1 (a) Figure 1 shows a syringe which contains air.

Figure 1

The piston is pushed in. The volume and pressure in the syringe change.

Describe how the volume and pressure of the air change when the piston is pushed in.

(2 marks)

(b) The passage below is about kinetic theory.

Complete the sentences.

Molecules in a gas are in constant random motion at ............... speeds.

Random motion means that the molecules do not travel in a specific path and undergo
sudden changes in their motion if they collide with the ............... of its container or with
other ................. .

The ................ of the gas is related to the average kinetic energy of the molecules.

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 (4 marks)

(c) This type of syringe can be used as a hand pump to inflate a bicycle tyre similar to that
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The air inside the tube exerts an outward force on the wall of the tube.

It takes 3.2 litres of air from the atmosphere to inflate the empty tube to a pressure of
360 000 Pa.

Atmospheric pressure is 100 000 Pa.

Calculate the final volume of air inside the tube once inflated.

final volume = ................................... L

(3 marks)

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(d) Higher Tier Only

When a bicycle pump is used to inflate the tube, the air in the bicycle pump gets warm.

Complete the sentences by circling the correct words:

When the air in the bicycle pump is compressed, the volume / pressure of the gas
decreases and the volume / pressure increases.

This is because the particles are moving in less space and collide more often / less
often / the same amount.

The increased / decreased pressure leads to an increase in temperature. This is

When the air in the bicycle pump is compressed, this increases / decreases the energy
in the kinetic / potential / thermal store of the air particles and contributes to the
overall kinetic / potential / thermal energy stored in the system, this is why the bicycle
pump gets warm.

(4 marks)

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2 (a) The molecules of a gas move around rapidly in a container as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct words

1. If the temperature of the gas increases, the kinetic energy of the molecules
increases / decreases, hence, the average velocity of the molecules increases /
decreases.

2. As a result, the frequency of the collisions increases / decreases.

3. This leads to a larger / smaller change in momentum in each collision.

4. Since force is directly / inversely proportional to the change in momentum, a

5. Since pressure is directly / inversely proportional to the force, this leads to an

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 (5 marks)

(b) A sealed boiling tube as shown in Figure 2 contains some gas.

The boiling tube is heated.

Figure 2

Describe what happens to the particles of gas as the temperature increases.

(2 marks)

(c) The boiling tube is then placed in an ice bath.

What happens to the speed and the kinetic energy of the particles in the gas?

(1 mark)

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(d) On the axes below, sketch a graph of pressure against temperature for a constant
volume of gas. Clearly mark the value of absolute zero on your graph.

(3 marks)

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3 (a) Figure 1 shows some gas particles in a container.

The piston can be moved in or out to change the volume of the gas.

Figure 1

Draw arrows on the diagram to show the motion of the gas particles.

(2 marks)

(b) Explain how the motion of the gas particles produces a pressure inside the container.

(3 marks)

(c) Describe what would happen to the pressure if you pushed the piston into the container
without changing the temperature.

(1 mark)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) A student carried out an investigation to see how the pressure of a gas varied with its
volume.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus used.

Figure 1

The student presses down on the syringe.

As the volume of the gas in the syringe decreases, the pressure of the gas increases.

The student only recorded one set of results.

Give two reasons why taking repeat readings could provide more accurate data.

(2 marks)

(b) If the student pushes the plunger too quickly, the temperature of the gas increases.

Explain how the increased temperature would affect the pressure exerted by the gas.

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 (2 marks)

(c) The student records the following results:

volume = 20 cm3

pressure = 1.2 × 105 Pa

Calculate the pressure when the volume of the gas is 50 cm3.

(3 marks)

(d) A car tyre is inflated using a foot pump.

Explain why the internal energy of the air in the tyre increases as it is inflated.

(2 marks)

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2 (a) A student carries out an investigation to measure how the pressure of a gas changes as
its volume changes.

Her results are shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2

Explain what conclusion can be drawn from the data in the graph.

Use data from the graph in your answer.

(3 marks)

(b) Explain, in terms of particles, why the pressure in the gas increases as its volume
decreases.

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 (4 marks)

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3 (a) Using ideas about particles, explain how air inside a container exerts pressure.

(3 marks)

(b) A car tyre exerts a pressure of 203 kPa on the ground.

The contact area between the tyre and the ground is 0.021 m2.

Calculate the force that the tyre exerts on the ground.

(3 marks)

(c) The air in the tyre heats up when the car is driven.

Explain how this affects the contact between the tyre and the ground.

You should assume that the volume of the air remains constant.

(3 marks)

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4 (a) Figure 3 below shows the basic details of the steam engine used in a steam locomotive.

Figure 3

The following is a description of how the steam engine works:

Hot air from the firebox passes through a pipe to the chimney

Water is heated as the pipe passes through the boiler

The water boils to form steam

The steam is trapped by the closed inlet valve and continues to be heated.

Explain why the pressure of the steam increases as its temperature increases.

(3 marks)

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(b) When the inlet valve is opened, the steam moves into the cylinder.

The pressure of the steam is 1.53 MPa.

The area of the piston is 0.0285 m2.

Calculate the force exerted by the steam on the piston.

(3 marks)

(c) When the steam flows through the outlet valve, its pressure changes from 1.53 MPa to
101 kPa.

The volume of steam in the cylinder is 0.022 m3.

Calculate the volume of the steam after it has passed through the outlet valve.

(3 marks)

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5 (a) Figure 4 shows the particles of helium inside a balloon.

Figure 4

Describe the motion of particles inside the helium balloon.

(2 marks)

(b) A small canister of pressurised helium is used to fill some balloons.

Using ideas about particles, explain why the pressure in the canister decreases as the
helium is used to fill the balloons.

(3 marks)

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(c) The cannister supplies 20 000 cm3 of helium at a pressure of 2400 kPa.

The volume of each balloon is 1200 cm3.

The pressure inside a balloon is atmospheric pressure, 100 kPa.

Calculate how many balloons can be filled using the helium from the canister.

You should assume the temperature of the helium remains constant.

(4 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) Figure 1 shows a can that produces whipped cream using gas at high pressure.

Figure 1

The volume of the high pressure gas container is 10 cm3.

The pressure of the gas is 10 000 kPa.

When the seal at S is broken, the gas is released into the space above the cream.

The gas expands to a total volume of 270 cm3.

Calculate the new pressure of the gas.

pressure = ..................................... kPa

(2 marks)

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(b) Higher Tier Only

As the gas expands into the space above the cream, its temperature decreases. Explain
how this affects the pressure of the gas.

(3 marks)

(c) Some of the gas molecules dissolve into the cream.

Suggest how this affects the pressure of the gas in the space above the cream.

(2 marks)

(d) When the tap is opened, the pressure of the gas forces the cream out of the spout.

The pressure outside the can is less than it is inside.

Suggest what happens to the dissolved gas as the cream leaves the can.

(1 mark)

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2 (a) Figure 1 shows a spray-can containing gas particles which are in constant motion.

Figure 1

Explain how the gas particles produce a pressure on the walls of the spray-can.

(3 marks)

(b) A student presses the button and some liquid leaves the can.

Explain what happens to the gas pressure in the spray-can as the liquid leaves.

(3 marks)

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(c) The student wants to investigate gas pressure further. They blow up two balloons to the
same size.

They put one balloon into a freezer.

After a while, the student compares the two balloons and finds that the balloon that has
been cooled is smaller.

Explain why the cooled balloon is smaller using ideas about particles.

(4 marks)

(d) The student decides to investigate the link between temperature and the size of the
balloon.

They write a plan for this experiment:

I will change the temperature of the balloon by putting it into a freezer.

To get a range of different temperatures I will put the balloon into the freezer for
different times.

I will measure the temperature of the balloon using a thermometer.

To measure the size of the balloon I will take it out of the freezer and line it up next to
a ruler.

To make sure it is a fair test I will repeat the experiment three times.

I will plot a graph of size against temperature.

There are several faults in the student's plan.

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Identify three of these faults and suggest an improvement to correct each one.

(6 marks)

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3 (a) Figure 1 is a graph showing how the volume changes with pressure for a gas at a
constant temperature.

Figure 1

Sketch the graph for the same gas at a higher temperature.

(1 mark)

1
(b) Sketch the graph of pressure p against where V is the volume of a gas. Label this X.
V
Add a second graph, labelled Y showing the same gas at a higher temperature.

(3 marks)

(c) The piston in Figure 2 is pulled out of the cylinder from position P to position Q, without
changing the temperature of the air enclosed. when moving from P to Q, the distance
between the piston and end of the cylinder doubles. The pressure when the piston is at
position P is 2.5 × 105 Pa.

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 Figure 2

Calculate the pressure when the piston is moved to position Q.

(4 marks)

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