CAIE IGCSE Physics 2 Thermal Physics Topic Practice

A sample of a substance has a shape that is determined by its container.
What are the possible states of this sample?

A night storage heater contains a large block of material that is heated electrically during the night. During the day the block cools down, releasing thermal energy into the room.

Which thermal capacity and which night-time temperature increase will cause the most energy to be stored by the block?

A stationary smoke particle is hit by a fast-moving nitrogen molecule.
Which row describes the motion of the smoke particle and of the nitrogen molecule after the collision?

A student wants to investigate good and bad absorbers of thermal radiation. She has the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.1, a supply of cold water and a metre rule.

Explain how the student could use the apparatus she has available to carry out her investigation. Describe the results she would expect to obtain. Draw a diagram of the set-up.