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B.1 Thermal energy transfers - IB Questionbank | RevisionDojo

Practice B.1 Thermal energy transfers with authentic IB Physics exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1A, 1B, 2 structure, covering key topics like mechanics, thermodynamics, and waves. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.

Paper

Level

Question 1

SLPaper 1A

$0.10\ kg$ of water at $20.0℃$ is placed in a perfectly insulated calorimeter with $0.20\ kg$ of copper at $90.0°C$ . Assuming no heat is lost to the environment, what is the final temperature?

(Specific heat capacities: water $= 4200\ \mathrm{J\ kg^{-1}\ K^{-1}}$ , copper $= 385\ \mathrm{J\ kg^{-1}\ K^{-1}}$ )

Question 2

SLPaper 2

The graph shows how the temperature $T$ of a substance changes with time $t$ as it cools. The substance is initially in gaseous form at $130^\circ{C}$ , then cools and condenses at its boiling point, and continues cooling in liquid form.

State what happens to the average kinetic energy of the particles between $t = 0$ and $t = 30\ \mathrm{s}$ .

[1]

Outline what happens to the thermal energy of the substance between $t = 30$ and $110\ \mathrm{s}$ .

[2]

Explain why the temperature remains constant during the interval from $t = 30$ to $110 \ \mathrm{s}$ .

[2]

The substance has a mass of $0.150\ \mathrm{kg}$ and a specific heat capacity in the liquid phase of $c = 1000\ \mathrm{J\ kg^{-1}\ K^{-1}}$ .

Calculate the thermal energy lost by the substance between $t = 110$ and $160\ \mathrm{s}$ .

[2]

Question 3

SLPaper 1A

A figure skater weighing $60\ kg$ slows down to a stop from his initial speed of $6.0\ m\ s^{-1}$ . Given that the specific latent heat of fusion of water is $334\ kJ\ \ kg^{-1}$ , what is the maximum possible mass of ice melted as he slows down?

Question 4

SLPaper 2

A metal block is heated and its temperature is recorded at regular intervals. The mass of the block is $2.00\ \text{kg}$ , and its specific heat capacity is $900\ \text{J kg}^{-1} \text{K}^{-1}$ . The temperature increases by $10.0^\circ\text{C}$ .

Calculate the thermal energy absorbed by the metal block.

[2]

State one assumption made in this calculation.

[1]

Identify whether this energy change is associated with kinetic or potential energy of the particles.

[1]

Question 5

SLPaper 1A

Which of the following is a correct SI unit of specific heat capacity?

Question 6

SL & HLPaper 2

A black metal plate and a shiny metal plate are both placed under direct sunlight. After some time, the black plate is noticeably warmer than the shiny plate.

Explain why the black plate heats up more quickly than the shiny plate when exposed to sunlight.

[3]

If both plates are then moved to a shaded area, explain how the color and surface properties of each plate affect how quickly they lose heat.

[4]

Question 7

SLPaper 1A

The temperature of a fixed mass of an ideal gas changes from 200 °C to 400 °C.

What is $\frac{{\text{{mean kinetic energy of gas at 200 °C}}}}{{\text{{mean kinetic energy of gas at 400 °C}}}}$

Question 8

SLPaper 1A

Energy is supplied at a constant rate to a fixed mass of a material. The material begins as a solid. The graph shows the variation of the temperature of the material with time.

The specific heat capacities of the solid, liquid and gaseous forms of the material are $c_s$ , $c_l$ and $c_g$ respectively. What can be deduced about the values of $c_s$ , $c_l$ and $c_g$ ?

Question 9

HLPaper 1A

The fraction of the internal energy that is due to molecular vibration varies in the different states of matter. What gives the order from highest fraction to lowest fraction of internal energy due to molecular vibration?

Question 10

SLPaper 1A

Energy is transferred to water in a flask at a rate $P$ . The water reaches boiling point and then $P$ is increased.

What are the changes to the temperature of the water and to the rate of vaporization of the water after the change?

	Temperature	Rate of vaporization
A.	increases	unchanged
B.	increases	increases
C.	unchanged	unchanged
D.	unchanged	increases

B.1 Thermal energy transfers Questionbank