Specific heat capacity: past paper questions

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• Question 18May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Cooking oil of mass $0.25\text{ kg}$ is heated using a heater of power $50\text{ W}$. The graph shows how the temperature of the cooking oil changes with time. Thermal energy transfer from the oil to the surroundings is negligible.

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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 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured8 marks

  A student makes a ball from modelling clay. The ball has a mass of $0.20\text{ kg}$. She drops the ball from a height of $40\text{ m}$ above the ground.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 21Structured10 marks

  When the temperature of a liquid increases, the kinetic energy of its particles increases and the liquid expands. Explain, by referring to particles, why a liquid expands when heated.

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• 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 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student measures the efficiency of a small electric heater. The student is provided with the circuit shown in Fig. 1.1. The coil of wire is the small electric heater.

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• Question 21May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is the specific heat capacity of a liquid?

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 4.1 shows the particles (atoms) at one instant in a sample of iron at a temperature below its melting point. State the lowest possible temperature on the Celsius scale and on the Kelvin scale.

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• Question 2May/June 2024, paper 22Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 2.1 shows a small swimming pool containing water. The depth of water in the pool is $0.80\text{ m}$. The density of water is $1000\text{ kg}\mathrm{/}{\text{m}}^3$.

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• Question 1May/June 2023, paper 41Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A student investigates specific heat capacity. He puts $25{\text{ cm}}^3$ of water in a beaker. The thermometer in Fig. 1.1 shows the temperature ${\theta }_1$ of the water.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 21Structured7 marksHas a diagram

  Evaporation of water from the surface of the skin causes cooling. Describe, using ideas about particles, how evaporation causes cooling.

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• Question 8May/June 2025, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Fig. 8.1 is a diagram of a nuclear reactor. Nuclear fission occurs within the fuel rods which become hotter as a result. The thermal energy is transferred to the coolant circulating around the rods.

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