MINISTRY OF GENERAL EDUCATION

NDEKE SECONDARY SCHOOL

THERMAL PHYSICS

GRADE 12 ASSIGNMENT ONE 2022 TERM ONE

1. Explains what the kinetic theory of matter is [3]

2. Describe quantitatively the molecular model of matter [6]
3. Apply kinetic theory to explain rates of
(i) Diffusion, (ii) Brownian motion, (iii) evaporation and cooling effect of evaporation.
[9]
4. Apply kinetic theory to explain gas pressure.
5. Figure 3.1 shows one form of an apparatus used to observe Brownian motion of
smoke particles in air. A pupil looking through the microscope sees tiny bright
specks which he described as "dancing about"

(a) What are the bright specks? [1]

(b) Why are the specks "dancing about"? [1]

(c) State the conclusion that can be drawn from Brownian motion. (d).Explain what
temperature is [1]
6. Describe physical properties of substances which change with temperature examples of Physical properties of
substance which change with temperature are:

(i) State of matter (ii) density (iii) thermal expansion (IV) electrical resistance (V) solubility [10]

7. Describe how to determine the lower and upper fixed points [10]

8. Draw diagrams to show structures of clinical and laboratory thermometers [14]

9. Describe the suitability of alcohol and mercury for use in a liquid – in –glass thermometers [6]

10. Describe the relationship between Celsius and kelvin scales.

11. Below is the table showing the properties of alcohol and mercury separate them into;
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(i) Advantages to the application and explain why [10] (ii) Disadvantages to the application and explain why
[10]

Alcohol
Mercury
-It has a high freezing point (-39oC). -It has a low freezing point (-112oC).
-It has a high boiling point (357oC) -It has a low boiling point (78oC)
-It is silvery coloured and doesn’t allow light -It is colourless but is made visible by adding
through. (It is easy to see.) colouring.
-It expands uniformly. But its expansion is not very -It doesn’t expand uniformly. However, it expands
large. about six times more than mercury.
-It does not wet glass. (It doesn’t stick to glass.) -It sticks to the wall of the capillary tube when the
thread is falling.
-It doesn’t vaporise at room temperature onto the -It easily vaporises.
upper parts of the tube.
-It is a good conductor of heat and therefore -It is not a good conductor of heat.
responds to change in temperature.
-It is poisonous. -It is safe.
-It is expensive. -It is cheap.

RADIOACTIVITY
66. Radioactive isotopes can be used to locate
internal bleeding in the
body. A commonly used radioactive isotope is
iodine — 131
(131I). This emits gamma radiation and has a half-
life of 8 days.
(a) Describe what is meant by a radioactive
isotope. [2]
(b) Describe what is meant by half-life.
[2]
(c) The activity of a sample of iodine — 131 was
measured over a
period of 20 minutes on three separate occasions.
The readings
obtained were: - 338βq, 326βq, 356βq.
(i) Explain why the readings were not all the same.
[1]
(ii) Calculate the average count rate for the
radioactive isotope.
[1]
72. (a) For one neutral atom of lead 214𝑃𝑏, state
the number of;
(i) Neutrons (ii) Electrons [2]
(b) Lead nucleus can undergo decay by the
emission of beta particle to produce a
bismuth (Bi) nucleus. Complete the equation below
to represent the decay of the
lead nucleus.
214𝑃𝑏 − −→ 𝐵𝑖 + [2]

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 12. Describe the structure and use of a thermocouple thermometer

13 Figure 7.1 shows how the temperature of two identical cans, one
with polished surface and the other one with black painted surface,
varied over a short period of time after they were placed into strong
sunlight.

(a) State the name of the process that transfers energy to the cans. [1]

(b) Which Can A or B is with the polished surface? [1]

(c) Give a reason for your answer. [1]

CONSDER THE NOTES BELOW FOR SOME QUESTIONS
the size of the degree in Kelvin is the same as in Celsius.
According to the calculations (Charle’s law), a gas would contract as it cools until at -273oC. Then,
the gas has no volume at -273oC.
-273oC is called absolute zero (0K).
273 must be added to convert Celsius into Kelvin.
TK= TC+ 273
TK: Temperature in Kelvin scale [K]
TC: Temperature in Celsius scale [oC]
[Example]
Convert (a) 0oC and (b) 100oC into K.
(a) TK = 0oC + 273 = 273K
(b) TK = 100oC + 273 = 373K
(a) The sun heats 30m3of dry air at 54oCuntil its volume increases to 32 m3under the
Atmospheric pressure. Calculate the temperature of the air.

Combination of Boyle’s and Charles’laws

P1V1/T1= P2V2/T2
(This equation is called the general gas equation.)
7.5m3of gas is at a pressure of 35N/m2and a temperature of 13.5oC. Find its volume when it is at a
temperature of 63.5oC and a pressure of 17.5N/m2.

(1) 1.5m3of gas is collected at a pressure of 80N/m2. What would be its pressure if it expands to
2.4m3at the same temperature?
(2) Convert the following temperatures;
(a) 47oC (b) 32oC (c) -13oC (from Celsius to Kelvin)

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(d) 323K (e) 300K (f) 272K (from Kelvin to Celsius) [2]
(3) 4m3of a certain gas is at 27oC. Calculate its volume when the temperature is raised to 127oC
Under atmospheric pressure. [2]
3 o 2 o
(4) 5m of gas at 27 C is under a pressure of 120kN/m . What would be its volume at 0 C
and pressure of 91kN/m2. [2]
(5). Why are the nails colder than cotton when we touch them? [1]

2010 QUESTION PAPER 2

49. (a) Figure 6.1 shows a cooler box used to keep food cool.

(a) Describe how the cooler box keeps food cool for a long period. [2]

(b) With the aid of a labelled diagram describe an experiment to determine the lower fixed point of
a thermometer. [4]
Q52. (a). Describe an experiment you would perform to demonstrate that water

Is a poor conductor of heat? [4]

(b) Figure 11.1 shows, the essential features of a solar heating panel. A small electric
Pump circulates a liquid through the pipes.

State why,
(i) the pipes and back plate are blackened [2]

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(ii) There is a mineral fibre backing to the panel [2]

(iii) The glass sheet increases the energy collected by the panel by a large factor. [2]

Q 54 (a) The pressure of air in a tyre of an empty lorry is 3.0 x 105Pa and
the volume of the air in the tyre is 0.080m 3. Calculate the volume of the
air in the tyre when the lorry is loaded until the pressure of the air in the
tyre rises to 3.6 x 105Pa.
[3]
(b) The tyre pressure of a lorry that has been moving for some time
Is usually greater than the pressure when the lorry has been
Standing at rest. Why is this so? [2]

57. Figure 8.1 shows a diagram of a clinical thermometer with some features labelled

Explain why it has each of the following features:-

(a) A thin glass walled bulb, (b) A constriction (c) A short range of temperature calibration,

(d) A narrow bore, (e) An oval shaped glass stem. [5]

58. Figure 5.1 shows a laboratory thermometer.

(a) Name the substance labelled A. [1] (b) Name the section labelled B. [1]

(c) Why is part B narrow? [1] (d) Explain why the wall of the thermometer bulb marked D is thin.
[1]

(e) Give two advantages of a thermocouple thermometer compared with mercury

thermometer for measuring temperature. [2]

QUESTION 2021

(i) Explain as to why a scientist cannot check for temperature change use palms or fingers
[1]
(i) Explain as to how physics has contributed positively in prevention of spread of Novel
Covid-19 pandermic to the world at large [1]

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Q 62.What was the boiling point of the liquid? [1]

(b) State and explain what difference, if any, there would be in the final temperature if the

liquid was heated more strongly. [2]

(c) State two differences between boiling and evaporation. [2]

Q 64. (a) Describe an experiment to show that a blackened metal surface is a better absorber of
infrared radiation than a polished metal surface at the same temperature. [5]

(b) An electric light bulb quickly reaches a constant high temperature when switched on. Explain
how heat is lost from the bulb and also why the temperature of the bulb becomes constant.

Q 65. (a) Describe an experiment to determine the upper fixed point of a liquid — in
glass thermometer. [4]
(b) (i) The volume of a gas at a temperature of -73°C and a pressure of 380mm Hg is 1000cm3.
Find the volume of the same gas at a pressure 760mm Hg and temperature of 127°C.
(ii) State two advantages of mercury over alcohol as thermometric liquid. [2]
(c) Give two advantages of a thermocouple thermometer over liquid in glass thermometers. [2]

2016 G.C.E QUESTION PAPER 2

Q 66. Two metal plates A and B, one with shiny surfaces and the other painted black are heated to
a temperature of 100°C. The metal plates are then placed in the open air or
insulating materials and allowed to cool. The table below shows the results obtained with time.

Time in Temperature of metal

seconds plate in oC
A B
0 100 100
30 92 85
60 87 74
90 84 67
120 81 63
150 79 60

(a) By what process (es) of heat transfer are the metal plates losing heat to the surrounding? [1]

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(b) Which metal plate is losing heat faster? [1]

(c) State, with a reason which metal plate A or B has shiny surfaces. [1]
2017 G.C.E QUESTION PAPER 1
71. Figure B4.1 shows a glass syringe with a sealed tip containing a gas at an initial pressure of 360Pa
placed in hot water. After a few minutes the piston in the syringe moved up.

(a) Using the kinetic theory explain why the piston in the syringe moved upwards when the
syringe was placed in hot water. [2]
(b) The piston was pushed downwards to 20cm3 while the temperature was kept constant. [2]
(i) In terms of the kinetic theory explain why the pressure of the gas in the syringe increases.[1]

(ii) Calculate the pressure of gas in the syringe. [1]

78. (a) Describe the motion of the molecules of a gas . [1]
(b) A bicycle pump of volume 72cm3 is filled with air at a pressure of 0.100mpa. The volume
is reduced to 30cm3 no air leaks from the pump and the temperature stays constant. Calculate
the pressure of the compressed air
(c) State Boyle’s law.
[1]
[TOTAL: 4MARKS]
79. When a mixture of smoke and air is suitably illuminated and viewed through a microscope small
bright specks are seen to be moving In a jerky random motion.
(a) What are the bright specks? [1]
(b) Why do they move? [1]
(c) What change or changes in the motion of smoke and air would you observe if the mixture
were warmed? [1]
80. Use the molecular theory of matter to explain briefly why
(a) A gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container. [1]
(b) The pressure increase with temperature (assuming that the volume does not change). [1]
(c) The pressure inside a balloon increases when it is squashed. [1]
82. Explain and give a reason what happens when
(a) Pressure of a gas in a closed container if the volume decreases but temperature remains
the same. [2]
(b) Temperature of a gas in a closed container if the pressure decreases but the volume stays
the same [2]
(c) Volume of a gas in a closed container if the pressure decreases but the temperature remains
the same. [2]
(d) Pressure of a gas in a closed container if the speed of the gas increase, but the volume
and numbers of gas particles remains the same. [2]
(e) Pressure of a gas in a closed container if the new gas that has more massive particles,
but maintains the same number and speed of gas particles as the original? [2]

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 [TOTAL: 12MARKS]
84. (a) What is meant by the term pressure? [1]
(b) Complete the table below on the relation of pressure and area.
Pressure Area
Increase

Increases
(ii) A concrete block has a mass of 2600kg .if the block measures 0.5m by 1.0m by 2.0m,
when resting on the ground? (g = 10N/kg),What is the pressure? [1]
(iii) A rectangular block of mass 30kg measures l= 0.1 m by b= 0.4m by h =1.5m
Find the rectangular block’s area and calculate its weight. [2]
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(f) (i) On a frozen lake, the ice will break if the pressure on it is greater than 1.0N/cm .Four
Boys stand on the ice,

(ii)A crate weighing 1000N rest on the floor its base measures 0.5m by 0.2m.Calculate
the pressure acting on the floor.
(iii) A gas in a cylinder is exerting a pressure of 400Pa on the walls. If the walls have an area
of 3m2. Calculate the total outward thrust on them.
(iv) The pressure in a car’s tyre is 200kpa.The total weight of the car is 10,000N.Calculate the
area of the car’s tyres which must be in Contact with the ground [5]
85. State whether the following statements describe a solid, liquid and a gas.
(a) Particles move about freely at high speed. [1]
(b) Particles vibrate and cannot change position. [1]
(c) Fixed shape and volume. [1]
(d) Particles vibrate but can change positions. [1]
(e) No fixed shape or volume. [1]
(f) Fixed volume but no fixed shape. [1]
(g) Virtually no attractions between particles. [1]

50. Figure 7.1 shows some of the components of the electromagnetic spectrum.

(a) What component is represented by A? [1]

(b) State the speed of the following components in a vacuum.

(i) infra-red [1]

(ii) gamma rays [1]

(c) All electromagnetic waves are transverse.

(i) What is the meaning of the term "transverse"? [1]

(ii) Give another example of a transverse wave, but which is not an electromagnetic wave. [1]

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