5 Solids, liquids and gases
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Solids, liquids and gases units
5.1Matter units
Use the units degree Celsius (°C), kelvin (K), joule (J), kilogram (kg), kilogram per cubic metre (kg/m³), metre (m), square metre (m²), cubic metre (m³), metre per second (m/s), metre per second squared (m/s²), newton (N) and pascal (Pa).
5.2PSpecific heat capacity unit
Use the unit joule per kilogram degree Celsius, J/(kg °C).
(b) Density and pressure
5.3Density equation
Know and use density = mass ÷ volume, ρ = m/V.
5.4Density practical
Practical: investigate density using direct measurements of mass and volume
5.5Pressure equation
Know and use pressure = force ÷ area, p = F/A.
5.6Pressure in fluids
Understand how the pressure at a point in a gas or liquid at rest acts equally in all directions
5.7Pressure difference equation
Know and use pressure difference = height × density × gravitational field strength, p = hρg.
(c) Change of state
5.8PHeating and energy stores
Explain why heating a system will change the energy stored within the system and raise its temperature or produce changes of state
5.9PMelting, evaporation and boiling
Describe the changes that occur when a solid melts to form a liquid, and when a liquid evaporates or boils to form a gas
5.10PParticle arrangement and motion
Describe the arrangement and motion of particles in solids, liquids and gases
5.11PChange of state practical
Practical: obtain a temperature–time graph to show the constant temperature during a change of state
5.12PSpecific heat capacity
Know that specific heat capacity is the energy required to change the temperature of an object by one degree Celsius per kilogram of mass (J/kg °C)
5.13PThermal energy equation
Use change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × change in temperature, ΔQ = mcΔT.
5.14PSpecific heat capacity practical
Practical: investigate the specific heat capacity of materials including water and some solids
(d) Ideal gas molecules
5.15Gas pressure
Explain how molecules in a gas have random motion and that they exert a force, and hence a pressure, on the walls of a container
5.16Absolute zero
Understand why there is an absolute zero of temperature, which is –273 °C
5.17Kelvin scale
Describe the Kelvin scale of temperature and be able to convert between the Kelvin and Celsius scales
5.18Temperature and gas molecule speed
Understand why an increase in temperature results in an increase in the average speed of gas molecules
5.19Kelvin temperature and kinetic energy
Know that the Kelvin temperature of a gas is proportional to the average kinetic energy of its molecules
5.20Gas pressure relationships
Explain, for a fixed amount of gas, the qualitative relationship between: • pressure and volume at constant temperature • pressure and Kelvin temperature at constant volume
5.21Pressure-temperature relationship
Use p₁/T₁ = p₂/T₂ for the pressure and kelvin temperature of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume.
5.22Pressure-volume relationship
Use p₁V₁ = p₂V₂ for the pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature.