Conduction: past paper questions

Where the questions come from

• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Figure 4.1 shows a travel mug used to keep a liquid hot. Inside the mug, there are metal walls with a vacuum between the walls. The mug contains $250\text{ g}$ of water, initially at $90{}^{\circ }\text{C}$.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows a small block of ice at $0{}^{\circ }\text{C}$ and a plastic cup that contains $0.24\text{ kg}$ of water. The initial temperature of the water in the cup is $22.0{}^{\circ }\text{C}$. The block of ice is dropped into the water.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows gas at room temperature. The gas is trapped in a metal cylinder by a metal piston fixed in position. The metal cylinder is immersed in boiling water and the temperature of the trapped gas increases.

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• Question 21Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Solid metals are good thermal conductors. How closely packed are their particles and do the metals contain free electrons?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 42Essay6 marks

  A student investigates the rate of cooling of hot water in a beaker. Plan an experiment to investigate the relationship between the thickness of the cardboard insulation wrapped around the beaker and the rate of cooling of the hot water in the beaker.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 3.1 shows a laboratory freezer. The door is closed and the freezer is switched on. A cold liquid is pumped through the copper pipe at the top of the freezer.

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• Question 23Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A metal kettle is heated on a grid above red-hot glowing coal. What are the main thermal energy transfers through the bottom of the kettle and within the water?

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• Question 18May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Thermal energy passes quickly from hot regions of a metal to cold regions of the metal. Why are metals good conductors of thermal energy?

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• Question 16May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a metal pan on a hotplate. The pan is heated by the hotplate. How is the thermal energy transferred from the hotplate to the metal pan?

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• Question 17May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about copper explains why it is a better thermal conductor than glass?

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 42Structured6 marks

  A student investigates the time taken for ice cubes to melt when they are placed in a beaker of hot water. Plan an experiment to investigate how the thickness of the cardboard insulation around a beaker affects the time taken for the ice cubes in the beaker to melt.

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