Particle model: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 11May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Very small pollen grains are suspended in water.

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram represents gas particles moving around in a sealed container. The gas particles collide with the walls of the container. The temperature of the gas is increased.

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Why can a gas be compressed easily into a smaller volume?

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row lists two properties of a solid?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows the overall movement of particles and the temperature change when a liquid evaporates?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A student has two blocks of metal, X and Y. The temperature of X is $50{}^{\circ }\text{C}$ and the temperature of Y is $0{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. The two blocks are placed in contact with each other, as shown. After some time, both blocks have a temperature of $25{}^{\circ }\text{C}$.

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• Question 11May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The air pressure in a car tyre is measured on a warm day. The pressure is then measured again during the cold night. The air pressure in the tyre has decreased.

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Air is trapped in a cylinder by a piston. The piston is pushed inwards. The volume of the air reduces.

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Some air is trapped inside a metal container with a tightly fitting lid. The container is heated strongly behind a safety screen. The lid is blown off by the increased pressure of the air inside the container.

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Brownian motion is the random motion of particles. In which states of matter is Brownian motion observed?

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• Question 14May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement is correct about the particles of a substance after condensation?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  When a hot gas cools, its internal energy decreases. What causes this?

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Water can exist in three states: solid (ice), liquid (liquid water) and gas (steam). In which states is the motion of the water particles only vibrational?

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A gas is contained in a cylinder by a movable piston. The gas is heated so that it expands at constant pressure. How is the force of each collision of a gas particle with the piston affected and how does the frequency of collisions between the gas particles and the piston change?

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes the arrangement and the average separation of gas particles?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  Brownian motion is the random movement of microscopic particles in a liquid or gas. Which statement about Brownian motion is correct?

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Air in a sealed syringe is slowly compressed by moving the piston. The temperature of the air stays the same. Which statement about the air is correct?

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• Question 13May/June 2026, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  The temperature of a copper block increases. Which energy store in the block must increase?

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram represents the particle arrangements in samples of three different substances, P, Q and R. The samples have equal volumes and the same temperature. The samples are heated. The temperature increase of each sample is the same and no changes of state take place.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured5 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows a metal box. The air in the box is at room temperature, $20{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. Air cannot leave or enter the box.

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A football is inflated in a warm room and then taken outside where the temperature is much lower. The pressure and temperature inside the ball both decrease. The volume of the ball is unchanged.

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 32Structured6 marks

  A sealed glass bottle contains air. The temperature of the air is $21{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. Calculate the temperature of the air in kelvin.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 represents the arrangement and separation of particles in a liquid. Each circle represents a particle. In the box in Fig. 3.2, draw at least four circles to show the arrangement and separation of particles in a gas.

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• Question 11May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a sealed syringe containing a gas at a constant temperature. What happens to the gas particles and the pressure of the gas as the plunger is pushed further in?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows an empty metal cylinder. Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the metal particles.

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• Question 10May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Diagram 1 shows apparatus being used to observe smoke particles. Diagram 2 shows how a smoke particle moves randomly. Why do the smoke particles move randomly?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Liquids are difficult to compress whereas gases can be compressed easily. Explain, in terms of particles, why it is difficult to compress liquids.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A teacher shows the class a demonstration about heat energy and states of matter. The teacher heats a substance. A heater supplies thermal energy at a steady rate.

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• Question 12May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a frictionless piston inside a cylinder. The air inside the cylinder is heated. The piston moves in the direction shown.

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• Question 14May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Gases, liquids and solids are made up of small particles. Which row gives the relative separation of the particles?

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