Energy (H) Question Paper provides a comprehensive assessment of thermal energy concepts, including thermal conductivity, energy transfer, and electrical power calculations. This paper is designed for students preparing for their energy-related examinations, covering essential topics such as specific heat capacity and current calculations. It includes practical problems and theoretical questions, making it a valuable resource for high school physics students. The content aligns with curriculum standards, ensuring relevance for exam preparation.

Key Points

  • Explores thermal conductivity of different metals through practical experiments.
  • Includes calculations related to energy transfer and specific heat capacity.
  • Covers electrical power concepts, including current and resistance calculations.
  • Features a variety of questions suitable for high school physics students.
Yukta Peerannawar
34 pages
Language:English
Type:Past Paper
Yukta Peerannawar
34 pages
Language:English
Type:Past Paper
43
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A student investigated the thermal conductivity of different metals.
This is the method used:
1. Measure the mass of an ice cube.
2. Put the ice cube on a metal block which is at room temperature.
3. Measure the mass of the ice cube after one minute.
4. Repeat with other blocks of the same mass made from different metals.
1.
The following table shows the student’s results.
Metal
Initial mass of ice
cube in grams
Final mass of ice
cube in grams
Change in mass of
ice cube in grams
Aluminium 25.85 21.14 4.71
Copper 26.20 20.27 5.93
Lead 25.53 21.97 3.56
Steel 24.95 19.45 5.50
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Energy (H)
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
Questions are for both separate science and combined science students unless indicated in
the question
(a) The initial temperature of each ice cube was –15 °C
Why was it important that the initial temperature of each ice cube was the same?
Tick (
)
one
box.
Initial temperature was a continuous variable.
Initial temperature was a control variable.
Initial temperature was the dependent variable.
Initial temperature was the independent variable.
(1)
(b) Which metal had the highest thermal conductivity?
Give a reason for your answer.
Metal: _____________________________________________________________
Reason: ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(c) Suggest
one
source of random error in the student’s investigation.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
(1)
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(d) An ice cube has a temperature of −15.0 °C
The total thermal energy needed to raise the temperature of this ice cube to 0.0 °C and
completely melt the ice cube is 5848 J
specific heat capacity of ice = 2100 J/kg °C
specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 334 000 J/kg
Calculate the mass of the ice cube.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Mass of ice cube = _____________________________ kg
(5)
(Total 9 marks)
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End of Document
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FAQs

What is the method used to investigate thermal conductivity in metals?

The method involves measuring the mass of an ice cube, placing it on a metal block at room temperature, and measuring the mass of the ice cube after one minute. This process is repeated with different metal blocks of the same mass to compare results. The change in mass of the ice cube indicates the thermal conductivity of the metals tested.

Which metal had the highest thermal conductivity according to the results?

Copper had the highest thermal conductivity among the metals tested, with a change in mass of 5.93 grams after one minute. This indicates that copper is more effective at conducting heat compared to aluminum, lead, and steel, which had lower mass changes.

How is the mean energy transferred from the National Grid calculated?

To calculate the mean energy transferred from the National Grid each second, the total energy transferred over a year (1.25 × 10^18 J) is divided by the number of seconds in a year (3.16 × 10^7 seconds). This provides the average energy transferred per second.

What is the specific heat capacity of ice mentioned in the document?

The specific heat capacity of ice is stated as 2100 J/kg °C. This value is crucial for calculating the thermal energy required to raise the temperature of ice, as well as for determining the mass of the ice cube based on the energy needed to melt it.

What is the efficiency of the solar cells as mentioned in the document?

The efficiency of the solar cells is noted as 0.15, meaning that only 15% of the input power is converted into useful electrical energy. This efficiency is an important factor when evaluating the performance of solar power systems compared to other energy sources.

What does the graph of the mean surface temperature of the sea indicate about climate change?

The graph shows a rising trend in the mean surface temperature of the sea from 1988 to 2016, indicating a significant increase over the years. This data suggests that climate change is occurring, as the continuous rise in temperature reflects the impacts of global warming.

What are the advantages of using nuclear power compared to shale gas for electricity generation?

Nuclear power has several advantages over shale gas, including lower carbon emissions and a more stable energy supply. Unlike shale gas, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and can cause environmental issues like minor earthquakes from fracking, nuclear power provides a cleaner alternative with less environmental impact.