Specific heat capacity: past paper questions

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• Question 13May/June 2026, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  $900\mathrm{k}\mathrm{J}$ of energy is transferred to a mass of water. The temperature of the water increases from $20{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$ to $45{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C}$. The specific heat capacity of water is $4200\mathrm{J}\mathrm{/}(\mathrm{k}\mathrm{g}{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C})$.

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 42Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 3.1 shows an electric shower. The temperature of water as it enters the shower is 15 °C. The water is heated in the shower.

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  In an experiment to measure specific heat capacity, a block of aluminium is heated and its rise in temperature is measured. The internal energy gained by the block is $\mathrm{\Delta }E$. The mass of the block is $m$.

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  Thermal energy $\mathrm{\Delta }E$ is supplied to an object of mass $m$ which does not change its state during the heating process.

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 43Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 4.1 shows a pan of water on a hotplate. The mass of water in the pan is $200\text{ g}$. The specific heat capacity of water is $4.2\text{ J}\mathrm{/}(\text{g}{}^{\circ }\mathrm{C})$.

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 mark

  The specific heat capacity of ice is $2000\text{ J}\mathrm{/}(\text{kg}{}^{\circ }\text{C})$. Which thermal energy is required to raise the temperature of $100\text{ g}$ of ice by $5{}^{\circ }\text{C}$?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 41Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Describe an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of aluminium.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 42Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a bottle part-filled with water. The air inside the bottle is at the same pressure as the air outside the bottle. The bottle and its contents are at room temperature.

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  A $12\text{ V}$, $50\text{ W}$ immersion heater is used to heat $0.15\text{ kg}$ of water in a beaker. The water is initially at a room temperature of ${20}^{\circ }\text{C}$. The specific heat capacity of water is $4200\text{ J}\mathrm{/}(\text{kg}{}^{\circ }\text{C})$.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 43Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows a portable shower used on a campsite. The bag is filled with water. The water is heated using infrared radiation from the Sun.

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 41Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates the efficiency of a filament lamp. Fig. 4.1 shows the filament lamp with its glass bulb immersed in water in a beaker.

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• Question 12May/June 2025, paper 21Multiple choice1 mark

  The specific heat capacity of solid P is greater than that of solid Q. What does this statement mean?

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• Question 13May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 mark

  The temperature of the water at the bottom of a waterfall is greater than the temperature of the water at the top. The energy in the gravitational potential store of the water at the top is transferred to the thermal store at the bottom.

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• Question 5May/June 2023, paper 42Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 5.1 shows an electric heater used to heat a room. The dimensions of the room are $4.5\text{ m}\times 6.1\text{ m}\times 2.4\text{ m}$. The density of air is $1.2{\text{ kg/m}}^3$.

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• Question 14May/June 2025, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the equipment used in an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal.

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• Question 16May/June 2024, paper 22Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two samples of the same material have the same mass but different surface areas. Each sample is heated to the same temperature and then left to cool to room temperature. Each sample is allowed to cool to the same final temperature.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 43Structured10 marks

  State which state of matter, solid, liquid or gas, has the greatest thermal expansion and which has the least.

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• Question 14May/June 2025, paper 23Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows some of the apparatus used to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal block.

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• Question 3May/June 2024, paper 41Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows a small block of ice floating in a beaker of warm water. State one way in which the motion of the particles in ice differs from the motion of the particles in water.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 43Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a pan with a copper base on a hotplate. The hotplate heats the pan and the water. Explain how thermal energy is conducted through the copper base.

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 43Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows a stainless-steel saucepan being heated on an electric cooker. The saucepan contains water. State what happens to the water particles as the water temperature increases.

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