Lesson 3.6.2.1

3.6.2.1 Thermal energy transfer Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.6.2.1, Thermal energy transfer: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 6: Further mechanics and thermal physics (A-level only), written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. The internal energy of a body is:

    • the total kinetic energy of its centre of mass
    • the energy stored only in chemical bonds
    • the gravitational potential energy of the body
    • the sum of the randomly distributed kinetic and potential energies of its particles

  2. The energy needed to change the temperature of a substance is given by:

    • Q = m c delta theta
    • Q = m l delta theta
    • Q = m c / delta theta
    • Q = c delta theta / m

  3. The energy needed for a change of state is given by:

    • Q = m c
    • Q = m delta theta / l
    • Q = m l
    • Q = l / m

  4. According to the first law of thermodynamics in qualitative form, internal energy increases when:

    • the external pressure alone is increased
    • energy is supplied as heat, which always decreases internal energy
    • work is done on the body, which leaves internal energy unchanged
    • energy is transferred to the body by heating or work is done on it

  5. During melting, the temperature of a pure substance stays constant because:

    • no energy is supplied during melting
    • the energy supplied changes the potential energies of the particles, not their kinetic energies
    • the substance has no internal energy during melting
    • the kinetic energies fall while potential energies stay constant

  6. The specific heat capacity of a substance is the energy needed to raise the temperature of:

    • 1 mol of the substance by 100 K
    • 1 g of the substance by 1 degree Celsius
    • 1 m^3 of the substance by 1 K
    • 1 kg of the substance by 1 K

  7. The SI unit of specific latent heat is:

    • J kg^-1
    • W kg^-1
    • J kg
    • J kg^-1 K^-1

  8. Water (c = 4200 J kg^-1 K^-1) of mass 2.0 kg is heated through 10 K. How much energy is needed?

    • 420 kJ
    • 8.4 kJ
    • 84 kJ
    • 42 kJ

  9. Ice of mass 0.50 kg melts with specific latent heat 3.3 x 10^5 J kg^-1. How much energy is needed?

    • 16.5 kJ
    • 165 kJ
    • 33 kJ
    • 660 kJ

  10. A 2.0 kW heater supplies energy to 2.0 kg of water (c = 4200 J kg^-1 K^-1) and raises its temperature by 10 K. Ignoring losses, how long does this take?

    • 420 s
    • 4.2 s
    • 42 s
    • 168 s

  11. A 0.20 kg aluminium block (c = 900 J kg^-1 K^-1) cools by 15 K. How much energy does it release?

    • 0.27 kJ
    • 27 kJ
    • 2.7 kJ
    • 13.5 kJ

  12. A 0.30 kg mass of water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, with specific latent heat of vaporisation 2.26 x 10^6 J kg^-1. How much energy is needed?

    • about 68 kJ
    • about 680 kJ
    • about 7.5 MJ
    • about 6.8 kJ

  13. Water flows at 0.50 kg per second and is heated from 15 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius. What power is needed?

    • 8.4 kW
    • 420 kW
    • 42 kW
    • 4.2 kW

  14. A 500 W heater supplies a substance at a constant rate for 200 s during melting. How much energy does it supply?

    • 400 kJ
    • 2.5 kJ
    • 100 kJ
    • 10 kJ

  15. A 0.20 kg mass of hot water at 80 degrees Celsius is mixed with 0.30 kg of cold water at 20 degrees Celsius. Ignoring heat losses, what is the final temperature?

    • 40 degrees Celsius
    • 44 degrees Celsius
    • 60 degrees Celsius
    • 50 degrees Celsius

  16. A pure substance is heated at constant power until it melts. What does its temperature-time graph show during melting?

    • a flat section while the solid is still being heated
    • a flat section while the substance changes state
    • a straight line with a constant gradient through melting
    • a steady rise with no plateau

  17. A 0.50 kg metal block at 90 degrees Celsius is dropped into 0.40 kg of water at 20 degrees Celsius. The final temperature is 30 degrees Celsius. What is the specific heat capacity of the metal?

    • 4200 J kg^-1 K^-1
    • 140 J kg^-1 K^-1
    • 560 J kg^-1 K^-1
    • 2240 J kg^-1 K^-1

  18. A 1.5 kW heater runs for 5 minutes, and all its energy heats water from 20 degrees to 100 degrees Celsius. What mass of water is heated?

    • about 1.3 kg
    • about 0.25 kg
    • about 0.5 kg
    • about 6.7 kg

  19. A student says melting ice at 0 degrees Celsius needs no energy because its temperature does not change. Which response is best?

    • Correct: no energy is needed when temperature is constant.
    • Incorrect: energy is needed to change the potential energies of the particles during melting, given by Q = m l.
    • Incorrect, because melting releases energy and cools the ice.
    • Correct, since the latent heat of ice is zero.

  20. A cooling curve shows a plateau while a liquid solidifies at constant temperature. What does this show?

    • The kinetic energy of the particles is increasing.
    • The specific heat capacity of the substance is zero.
    • The substance is gaining internal energy during the plateau.
    • Energy is released as particles lose potential energy while the temperature stays constant.

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