Particle model: past paper questions
Real questions on particle model
The newest 20 of 38 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0972/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(i)[1]
The movement of the particles in a gas is
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(ii)[1]
The forces between the particles in a gas are
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(iii)[1]
The gas exerts a pressure because the moving gas particles
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2025 · Q4a(iv)[1]
As the temperature of a fixed volume of gas decreases, the pressure exerted by the gas
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2024 · Q5a[3]
Describe the motion, separation and arrangement of the air particles in the metal box.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2024 · Q5b[2]
Describe the changes in the motion of the air particles in the box when the temperature decreases. (b) A student puts the box in a freezer. The temperature of the air in the box decreases.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2024 · Q5a[3]
Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of gas particles.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2024 · Q5b(ii)[2]
When the piston moves into the container, the temperature of the gas does not change. Describe and explain any change in the pressure on the walls of the container.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2024 · Q3a[1]
State one way in which the motion of the particles in ice differs from the motion of the particles in water.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2024 · Q3b(iv)[3]
State what happens to the internal energy of the water as the temperature of the water decreases. Describe the change in terms of the energy of the particles.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2023 · Q3a[2]
In the box in Fig. 3.2, draw at least four circles to show the arrangement and separation of particles in a gas. Fig. 3.2
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2023 · Q3a[2]
Explain, in terms of particles, why it is difficult to compress liquids.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2023 · Q5a[3]
Describe how the particles in Fig. 5.1 exert a pressure on the walls of the box.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · May/June 2023 · Q5b[2]
The number of gas particles in the box increases. The temperature of the gas does not change. State and explain the effect, if any, on the pressure exerted by the gas particles on the walls of the box.
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2023 · Q4a(i)[3]
Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles in the solid metal.
See it on the paper → - 0972/32 · May/June 2023 · Q4a(ii)[1]
The student cools the block of metal in a freezer. State the effect, if any, of cooling on the kinetic energy of the particles in the block of metal.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2023 · Q3b(i)[1]
State what happens to the motion of the helium particles as the temperature increases.
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · October/November 2022 · Q5b(i)[2]
Describe how the gas exerts a pressure on the cylinder. Use your ideas about molecules.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2022 · Q4c[6]
When the temperature reaches –18 °C, the pressure of the gas in the cylinder is still equal to that of the atmosphere. Explain, in terms of the particles of the gas, how the pressure remains equal to its original value.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2022 · Q4d[4]
As the temperature of the metal cylinder decreases, the volume of the metal decreases. The decrease in the volume of the metal is much less than the decrease in the volume of the gas. Explain, in terms of the particles of the metal, why the decrease in the volume of the metal is less than that of the gas.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The majority of the candidates correctly described the motion as random. Some confused the separation of particles with the movement of particles and gave the answer ‘far apart’.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/32 Q4(a)(i) (Cambridge)
This was answered well, with most candidates writing about particles colliding with the walls or each other.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/32 Q4(a)(iii) (Cambridge)
Many candidates were able to give good answers to this question and there was a good understanding of the topic by most candidates. The only common error was for candidates to give several answers that were essentially the same property. Those candidates who used the structure of the question to formulate their answers by giving one answer about arrangement, one about separation and one about the...
— Examiner report, May/June 2024, 0972/31 Q5(a) (Cambridge)
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