th

Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Thermal Properties of Matter

Test Yourself 11.1 (page 191)

1. The internal energy of an object comprises the kinetic energies and potential energies of the
particles that make up the object. In a solid object, the kinetic energy component is due to the
vibrations of the particles in their fixed positions. The potential energy component is due to the
strong attractive forces that hold the particles in their fixed positions.

2. Mass of the object

Material of the object

3. The heat capacity of seawater is higher than that of the land. For a given amount of heat loss,
Q
the temperature of the seawater decreases by a smaller amount than the land ( = ).
C

4. Since the heat capacity is small, the transfer of a small amount of heat will cause a significant
change in the temperature of the thermocouple thermometer. Hence, it is able to detect rapidly
changing temperatures.

Test Yourself 11.2 (page 196)

1. The thermal energy absorbed during melting is used to break the intermolecular bonds in order
for the water molecules to break out of their fixed positions (i.e. change to the liquid state).

2.

79C

At region AB of the graph, the liquid napthalene cools to 79C. Region BC of the graph
represents the solidification of the naphthalene as it changes from the liquid to solid state. The
thermal energy that is released when the intermolecular bonds are forming is lost to the
surroundings. The internal potential energy decreases, while the internal kinetic energy does not
change. Therefore, the temperature remains constant. This temperature (79C) is the melting
point of naphthalene. At region CD, all the naphthalene has solidified and the intermolecular
bonds of the solid have formed completely, and therefore the temperature of the substance
continues to drop.

Quick Check (page 197)

When a liquid boils, the kinetic energy of its molecules remains constant. The thermal energy absorbed
by the molecules allows them to overcome intermolecular forces to move apart, as well as to push back
on the surrounding atmosphere at the same time in order to escape into the air.

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

11.1
 th
Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 11

Test Yourself 11.3 (page 197)

(a) During boiling, the thermal energy supplied is used to break the intermolecular bonds such that
the molecules can move about freely, as well as to push back the atmosphere (i.e. occupy any
given space). The heat supplied is not used to increase the average kinetic energy of the
molecules, and therefore there is no change in temperature.
(b) During condensation, heat is released by the molecules and lost to the surroundings as they
come together and form intermolecular bonds (internal potential energy decreases). There is no
change in the internal kinetic energy and therefore there is no change in temperature.

Test Yourself 11.4 (page 201)

1. 10C to 0C:
Still solid ice, water molecules vibrate more energetically (gain kinetic energy) as temperature
increases
0C (melting point):
The temperature remains at 0C for a period of time. The thermal energy supplied is used to
break the intermolecular bonds such that the molecules are no longer held in fixed positions. The
internal potential energy increases, while the internal kinetic energy remains constant.
0C to 100C:
When all the ice has been changed into the liquid state at 0C, the thermal energy supplied will
increase the average kinetic energies of the molecules, and hence result in an increase in the
temperature. The temperature will rise from 0C to 100C.
100C (boiling point):
The temperature remains at 100C during boiling. The thermal energy supplied is used to break
the intermolecular bonds such that the molecules are able to move freely and push back the
atmosphere (i.e. able to occupy any available space). The internal potential energy increases,
while the internal kinetic energy remains constant.
100C to 110C:
When all the liquid water has been changed into the gaseous state at 100C, the thermal energy
supplied will result in an increase in the average kinetic energy of the molecules. Hence, there is
an increase in the temperature of the water vapour.

2. To turn water at 10C to steam involves these two processes:

1. Raise temperature from 10C to 100C
2. Completely vaporise water at 100C

Heat required to raise temp from 10C to 100C

= mc
1 1
= 0.250 kg 4200 J kg K (100 10) K
4
= 9.45 10 J

Heat required to completely vaporise the water to steam at 100C

= mlv
3 1
= 0.250 kg (2200 10 J kg )
5
= 5.50 10 J
4 5 5
Total energy required = (9.45 10 + 5.50 10 ) J = 6.44 10 J
5
Since power P = 2000 W, and Q = 6.44 10 J, time t can be found using the formula:
Q
P=
t
5
6.44 10 J
2000 W =
t
5
6.44 10
t= = 322 s = 5 min 22 s
2000

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

11.2
 th
Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 11

Test Yourself 11.5 (page 204)

1. (Refer to Table 11.4 in the Textbook.)

2. Perfume is volatile and evaporates rapidly. When the perfume molecules evaporate, they take
thermal energy with them, lowering the temperature of the perfume. The perfume is now cooler
than your skin and therefore thermal energy flows from your skin to the perfume, causing your
skin to feel cold. (Heat transferred from the warmer skin to the cooler perfume produces the
cooling effect.)

3. Raising the temperature of the liquid will increase the rate of evaporation because a warmer
liquid will have a greater number of energetic molecules at the surface layer. More molecules
have sufficient kinetic energy to escape from the surface.

IT Learning Room (page 205)

1. Increase power supply, time taken decreases;

Increase mass of water, time taken increases;
Increase the starting temperature of the water, time taken decreases.

2. Assuming no heat loss to the surroundings,

heat produced by the heater = heat gained by water

Equation for heat capacity C

P t = C()
Pt
C=
(100C Ti)

where P = power of the heater;

t = time taken;
Ti = initial temperature.

Equation for specific heat capacity c

P t = mc()
Pt
c=
m(100C Ti)

where m = mass of water

When the mass of water is increased, the time taken for the water to boil increases. Therefore,
the heat capacity of water C changes according to the mass of the water. When the mass is
increased, the heat capacity increases; when the mass is decreased, the heat capacity
decreases.

The specific heat capacity of water c, however, is a constant. It does not change when the mass
of the water is changed. It is independent of the mass of water and is a fixed property of water.

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

11.3
 th
Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 11

Get It Right (page 207)

(a) True
(b) True
(c) False
Specific heat capacity is the heat capacity per unit mass.
(d) True
(e) False
The temperature remains constant in all four processes (melting, solidification, boiling and
condensation).
(f) True
(g) False
Specific latent heat is the thermal energy absorbed or released during a change of state of a unit
mass of substance, without any change in the temperature.
(h) False
latent heat of substance
Specific latent heat of a substance =
mass of substance
(i) True
(j) False
Evaporation does not require an external source of heat. The internal energy of the liquid
provides the energy needed for evaporation.

Lets Review (pages 208209)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. C
Q = mc()
3
(2.0 10 W)(3.2 s) = (0.24 kg)(c)(100C 30C)
1 1
c = 381 J kg K

2. A
The energy supplied is used to overcome the intermolecular bonds in the solid substance. The
intermolecular bonds need to be weakened to allow the molecules to move further away from one
another during melting. The internal potential energy increases, while the internal kinetic energy
remains the same. Since the internal kinetic energy does not change, the temperature of the
substance does not change.

3. D
Q = mlf
3
(1.5 10 W)(2.1 60) s = (0.5 kg)lf
1
lf = 378 kJ kg

4. D
Q = mlv
3 1
= (3.0 kg)(214 10 J kg )
= 642 kJ

5. B
During evaporation, the more energetic molecules near the surface of the liquid escape into the
air, leaving the less energetic molecules behind. The average energy of the liquid decreases, and
as a result the temperature of the liquid decreases.

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

11.4
 th
Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 11

Section B: Structured Questions

1. (a) Heat capacity C is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a body
by 1 K (or 1 C).
Specific heat capacity c is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of
a unit of mass of the substance by 1 K (or 1 C).
The relationship between heat capacity C and specific heat capacity c is given by
C = mc, where m is the mass of the body.
In words, the specific heat capacity is the heat capacity of a unit mass of a body.
(b) (i) A saucepan is usually made of a material with low specific heat capacity. This is to
ensure that the amount of heat absorbed by the saucepan is small, and most of the
heat will be channelled to the food for cooking.
(ii) Seawater has a higher heat capacity than land. For the same amount of heat supplied
by the Sun, the temperature rise for the seawater will be smaller than that for the land.

2. (a) Q = Pt
= 25 W 2 s
= 50 J
(b) Q = mc()
1 1
(25 W)(5 60) s = (150 g)(4 J g C )()
= 12.5C

3. Q = mc()
(VI)t = mc()
(8 V 5 A)(500 s) = (1 kg)(c)(50C)
1 1
c = 400 J kg C

4. (a) P: Solid
Q: Solid + liquid
R: Liquid

or

P: Liquid
Q: Liquid + gas
R: Gas
(b) The melting/boiling point of the material is the temperature at which the graph is a straight
horizontal line. The melting/boiling point of the material is 2.

5. (a) During melting, heat absorbed by the substance is used to break the intermolecular bonds
that hold the solid particles close together in an organised lattice. The heat is not used to
increase the average kinetic energy of the particles in the substance, and hence there is no
increase in the temperature of the substance.
(b) Assuming no heat is lost to the surroundings, the thermal energy gained by the metalic solid
due to atmospheric friction is equal to the thermal energy gained during the temperature rise
of the solid mass and the thermal energy gained by the solid mass during its change of state
from solid to liquid.

Therefore, R t = Mc() + Mlf

Mc + Mlf
t=
R

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

11.5
 th
Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 11

Section C: Free-Response Question

1. (a) The specific latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is the thermal energy required to
change a unit mass of the substance from liquid to gaseous state, or vice versa, without a
change in the temperature.
(b) (i) Heat supplied by heater = heat absorbed to raise the temperature of the substance
from 1 to 2
Pt1 = Mc(2 1)
Mc(2 1)
P=
t1
(ii) Heat supplied by the heater = heat absorbed by the substance to change from liquid to
gaseous state
Pt2 = mlV
Pt2
lV =
m
Mc(2 1)
( )t2
t1 Mc(2 1)t2
lV = =
m mt1

Physics Today (page 210)

1. Since both are made of water, they have the same specific heat capacity. They are able to
absorb heat at different rates due to the surface area exposed, not due to differences in specific
heat capacity.

(The water mist is made of many droplets of water with small heat capacities, whereas a stream
of continuous water has a larger heat capacity. Although the same volume and mass of water
may be used, the small heat capacities of the individual water droplets mean that they are able to
absorb heat from the fire at a faster rate.)

2. Grease and water do not mix, and water is denser than grease. Therefore, if water is added to
grease, water will sink to the bottom of the grease, where it will boil and vaporise. Once water
vaporises, it will carry droplets of grease and splash onto other surfaces, and thus spread the fire.
Grease fires can be put out with a dry chemical fire extinguisher.

Water should not be used on electrical fires as water conducts electricity and can cause electrical
shocks. Electrical fires can be put out with a dry chemical fire extinguisher.
1
3. The specific latent heat of fusion of vaporisation of carbon dioxide is 574 kJ kg , while that of
1
water is 2260 kJ kg . Therefore, water has a larger capacity to store thermal energy compared to
carbon dioxide. However, pressurised liquid carbon dioxide vaporises into a gas rapidly when
released from a fire extinguisher, which allows it to cover a large area and cut off the supply of
oxygen quickly. In addition, water is not ideal for putting out fires started due to grease. This is
why household fire extinguishers usually contain pressurised liquid carbon dioxide.

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

11.6