Specific heat capacity: past paper questions
Real questions on specific heat capacity
The newest 20 of 28 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q3a(ii)[2]
(ii) Calculate the energy required to increase the temperature of 18kg of water from 15°C to 38°C. OMEN .......... [2]
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[1]
(b) At another time, the temperature of the water leaving the shower is higher. The power supplied to the water remains constant. Suggest one reason for this increase in temperature. soe .
See it on the paper → - 0972/61 · May/June 2025 · Q2b[1]
The student pours 100 cm 3 of hot water into an empty beaker. She records the temperature θ of the hot water in the V = 100 cm 3 row of Table 2.1, as shown. Without delay, she pours 20 cm 3 of cold water into the beaker. She stirs the water and measures the temperature of the mixture of hot and cold water. She repeats...
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2024 · Q4a[4]
Describe an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of aluminium. You may draw a diagram. Include in your answer: the measurements made any equations needed. • •
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2024 · Q3b(ii)[2]
Initially, there is 0.34 kg of water in the beaker. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). Calculate the energy transferred from this water as its temperature decreases from 28 °C to 10 °C. energy transferred =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2023 · Q4a(i)[3]
Show that the increase in the internal energy of the water is 6300 J.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2023 · Q5a(ii)[4]
The power of the heater is 1100 W. The specific heat capacity of air is 1000 J / (kg °C). Calculate the time taken to increase the temperature of the air in the room from 16.0 °C to 20.0 °C. time =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2022 · Q4b[2]
The initial temperature of the cylinder and the gas is 21 °C and, in the freezer, the temperature of the cylinder decreases to –18 °C. The thermal capacity of the cylinder is 89 J / °C. Calculate the change in the internal energy of the cylinder. change in internal energy =
See it on the paper → - 0972/61 · October/November 2022 · Q3c[2]
Calculate the decrease in temperature Δθ 1 between t = 0 and t = 180 s. Δθ 1 = Calculate the average rate of cooling C 1 of the water using the equation C 1 = where Δt = 180 s. Include the unit. Δθ 1 , Δt C 1 =
See it on the paper → - 0972/61 · October/November 2022 · Q3d[1]
The student empties the beaker. He pours warm water into the same beaker. He records in Table 3.2 the temperature θ of the warm water at time t = 0. He measures, and records in Table 3.2, the water temperature every 30 s. Table 3.2 t / s θ / °C 0 74 30 71 60 70 90 68 Using Table 3.2, calculate the decrease in temperatu...
See it on the paper → - 0972/61 · October/November 2022 · Q3e[1]
A student suggests that the rate of cooling of water depends on the initial temperature of the water. Write a conclusion about the effect of the initial temperature of water on the rate of cooling of the water, based on the results. Justify your conclusion by reference to values from the results. conclusion justificati...
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2022 · Q5b(ii)[4]
The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). The cold water that enters the tap is at 22 °C. Calculate the rate at which water at its boiling point emerges from the tap. rate =
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2022 · Q4b[2]
The value of the heat capacity of the hot junction of a thermocouple thermometer is important in ensuring that it can measure temperature changes very rapidly. Explain why.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2022 · Q4c[3]
The hot junction of a thermocouple thermometer has a heat capacity of 0.11 J / °C. Calculate the thermal energy required to increase the temperature of the hot junction from 20 °C to 345 °C. energy =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2021 · Q2a[2]
Define thermal capacity.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2021 · Q2b(ii)[2]
The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). Calculate the decrease in the internal energy of the water as its temperature decreases from 17 °C to 0 °C. decrease in internal energy =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2020 · Q4b(i)[2]
Calculate the energy transferred from the water. energy transferred =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2020 · Q4b(ii)[2]
Calculate the thermal capacity of the copper container. thermal capacity of the copper container =
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2020 · Q3a[4]
A solar panel receives energy from the Sun at a rate of 5.0 kW. Thermal energy is transferred from the solar panel to water with an efficiency of 20%. Cold water of mass 15 kg enters the solar panel every hour. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / (kg °C). Calculate the temperature increase of the water. tem...
See it on the paper → - 0972/62 · May/June 2020 · Q3b(i)[1]
Calculate the rise in temperature θ R of the sand using the equation θ R = ( θ M – θ S ). θ R = °C
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Many candidates successfully recorded the appropriate units, cm3 and °C.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/61 Q2(b) (Cambridge)
Most candidates correctly recalled and used the formula c = E ÷ m∆. Candidates needed to remember that the final numerical answer should be given to the same number of significant figures as the data in the question, and the correct unit included. Many candidates wrote the equation in words or symbols first which was good practice. They should use recognised symbols for each term, such as or T for...
— Examiner report, May/June 2024, 0972/41 Q3(b)(ii) (Cambridge)
When asked to show that something is true, it is essential that candidates include the relevant formula in either words or symbols before substituting in values from the question. Candidates who only manipulated numbers to arrive at the answer did not demonstrate understanding of the physics involved. Most candidates knew and quoted the formula c = ∆E / m∆θ. Almost all candidates calculated ∆θ. Ca...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 0972/41 Q4(a)(i) (Cambridge)
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