Convection: past paper questions
Real questions on convection
The newest 9 of 9 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0972/32 · May/June 2025 · Q6b[4]
A student demonstrates convection in a liquid. The student has a water supply and the following equipment: a candle, a glass beaker, a tripod and some coloured crystals. The coloured crystals dissolve in warm water. glass beaker tripod coloured crystals candle Fig. 6.2 Describe how the student can demonstrate convectio...
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(i)[1]
State the main method of thermal energy transfer throughout the air in the room.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(ii)[3]
Explain how the heater warms all the air in the room.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2024 · Q3b(iii)[3]
The temperature of the water near the ice decreases first. Explain how convection causes the temperature of all the water in the beaker to decrease.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2023 · Q3c(ii)[3]
Describe how thermal energy is transferred through the water by convection.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2023 · Q2c[1]
The thermal energy passes into the water through the base of the pan. Identify the main method by which thermal energy is transferred throughout the water.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2023 · Q3a[2]
When the heaters are first switched on, the temperature of the air immediately below the ceiling increases more quickly than the temperature of the air in the rest of the room. Explain why this happens.
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2022 · Q5a(ii)[2]
Explain how the vacuum reduces the transfer of thermal energy from the hot liquid.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2022 · Q6c(ii)[3]
A cyclist travelling along the road notices that a cool breeze is blowing from the sea to the land. Explain how convection produces this breeze. You may include a diagram if it helps your answer.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates recognised the equipment and gained partial credit for recalling standard procedures. Generally, candidates were unfamiliar with this demonstration/experiment. A description of the crystals dissolving in warm water was common.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/32 Q6(b) (Cambridge)
Almost all candidates correctly stated that the main method of thermal energy transfer through air is convection. Any additional response here was a contradiction to the correct answer.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/41 Q4(a)(i) (Cambridge)
Stronger answers to this question referred to the bulk properties of hot and cold air and gave a coherent description of the convection current that is set up. Weaker candidates gave confused answers in terms of particles and sometimes referred to particle density changing which is incorrect. Some contradictory statements about the density of hot and cold air were seen. A few answers describing ai...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/41 Q4(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
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