Consequences of thermal energy transfer: past paper questions
Real questions on consequences of thermal energy transfer
The newest 13 of 13 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q5a[3]
Onahot day, a student wets his skin with cold water. The water on the student’s skin evaporates. Explain, in terms of particles, why the student’s skin temperature decreases.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[2]
(b) Figure 5.1 shows wet clothes on a line in the open air. - Figure 5.1 Water evaporates from the clothes. State two factors which affect the rate of evaporation of the water. Voce .......... eect .......... .......... ..........
See it on the paper → - 0972/62 · May/June 2026 · Q2b(ii)[1]
(ii) Calculate the rate of temperature increase of each card. Use the equation: : A@ rate of temperature increase = +t: Give your answers to 2 significant figures. Include the unit in your answer. rate of temperature increase of white card = rate temperature increase black Card .......... Unit .......... ..........
See it on the paper → - 0972/62 · May/June 2026 · Q2c[1]
Write a conclusion which compares the rates of temperature increase of the two different coloured cards. Justify your answer using your values from 2(b)(ii).
See it on the paper → - 0972/62 · May/June 2026 · Q2d(i)[1]
Suggest why the procedure does not produce a fair comparison.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(i)[3]
State which container has the larger temperature change over the first 5 minutes. Explain your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(ii)[1]
After 30 minutes, the temperature of the water in container A remains constant. State, in terms of energy transfers, why the temperature remains constant. (ii)
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(iii)[1]
The experiment is repeated without the lids on the containers. State the name of the additional method of energy transfer that occurs. (iii)
See it on the paper → - 0972/61 · May/June 2025 · Q2d(i)[1]
Complete the sentence to explain why it is important to add the cold water without delay at each stage. The cold water is added without delay
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2024 · Q4b(i)[3]
Explain why, after a short time, the dish and the water are the same temperature.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2023 · Q5a(iii)[1]
Suggest one reason why the time calculated in (a)(ii) is the minimum time needed to increase the temperature of the air in the room from 16.0 °C to 20.0 °C.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2020 · Q5c[1]
The metal container is spherical. The spherical container has a smaller surface area than a long, thin container of the same volume. Explain the advantage of using a spherical container.
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2020 · Q6a(ii)[3]
the vacuum between the silvered surfaces
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Only the strongest candidates realised that the dull black surface of container A made it a good emitter of infrared radiation or thermal energy. Many candidates correctly chose container A and then explained why by stating that dull black surfaces are good absorbers of radiation. In some cases, candidates had not read the question carefully enough and ignored the word ‘change’ after ‘temperature’...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/42 Q4(a)(i) (Cambridge)
A small minority of candidates recognised that the rate of transfer of energy from the container was equal to the rate of transfer of energy to the container or that there was no net energy transfer. Weaker answers that were insufficient for credit included statements of no energy or simply stated that there was thermal equilibrium.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/42 Q4(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
Most candidates answered this question correctly. Radiation and conduction were the most frequent incorrect answers.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/42 Q4(a)(iii) (Cambridge)
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