Lesson T1.1.3

T1.1.3 Insulation and thermal equilibrium Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.1.3, Insulation and thermal equilibrium: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Energy, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is thermal equilibrium?

    • A state where energy flows from the cooler object into the hotter one until both are equal
    • A state where one object is hotter than the other and energy flows from it steadily
    • A state where two objects are at the same temperature, so there is no overall energy transfer
    • A state where objects stop having any thermal energy at all, so they are completely cold

  2. Why do wool jumpers keep us warm in winter?

    • Wool stops all radiation from the body
    • Trapped air is a poor conductor, so body heat escapes slowly
    • Wool produces its own warmth from the body
    • Wool conducts heat in quickly from the outside air

  3. Which material is a good thermal insulator?

    • Steel, which is used in cooking pans and conducts heat very well
    • Aluminium, which is used in drinks cans and conducts heat very well
    • Expanded polystyrene
    • Copper, which is used in electrical wiring and conducts heat very well

  4. Two objects at different temperatures touch each other. Which way does thermal energy flow?

    • Both ways at the same rate
    • It does not flow at all
    • From the hotter object to the cooler object
    • From the cooler object to the hotter object

  5. How does loft insulation reduce heating bills?

    • It reduces energy lost from the house by conduction and convection
    • It creates new energy inside the house, so less fuel is needed to heat the rooms
    • It makes the house radiate more heat outwards, so the rooms feel warmer
    • It increases air flow through the roof, so warm air is moved around the house

  6. A cup of hot tea is left in a room. What happens to it over time?

    • It warms up again every hour
    • It cools until its temperature matches the room
    • It stays hot forever
    • It warms the room to a higher temperature than itself

  7. Why are double-glazed windows better insulators than single glass?

    • A layer of trapped air between the panes reduces conduction
    • The panes have a higher melting point
    • Two panes stop all radiation from passing through
    • Two panes create extra energy for the house

  8. Which property is most important for a good thermal insulator?

    • Low thermal conductivity
    • High electrical conductivity
    • High density
    • A bright colour

  9. A cool drink is poured over ice. In which direction does thermal energy flow?

    • It does not flow between them
    • From the warmer drink into the ice
    • It flows only through the glass
    • From the ice into the warmer drink

  10. Why is a thick duvet effective at keeping a person warm?

    • It traps a lot of air, which conducts thermal energy poorly
    • It creates energy from the body's movement, which warms the sleeper all night long
    • It absorbs cold air from the room, so the sleeper stays warm and comfortable
    • It has a high thermal conductivity, so it spreads warmth evenly over the whole body

  11. Two metal blocks at 80 °C and 20 °C are placed in contact and left for a long time. What is true at the end?

    • Both blocks drop below 20 °C because the metal gives out thermal energy to the air
    • They are at the same temperature, in thermal equilibrium
    • Both blocks return to their original 80 °C temperature after the contact ends
    • The 80 °C block stays hotter than the other block for the whole time they are touching

  12. Why do builders fill cavity walls with insulating material?

    • To reduce thermal energy transfer by conduction and convection through the wall
    • To make the walls heavier and stronger, so the building can support more weight
    • To create a store of electrical energy inside the walls for later use in the house
    • To increase the rate of radiation from the house, so that the street outside is warmed

  13. A vacuum flask reduces heat transfer. Which two transfers does its vacuum mainly reduce?

    • Radiation and magnetism
    • Conduction and electricity
    • Convection and friction
    • Conduction and convection

  14. A metal table feels colder than a wooden table at the same room temperature. Why?

    • Metal produces cold when touched
    • Metal conducts thermal energy away from your hand faster
    • Metal is colder than wood at room temperature
    • Wood absorbs cold from your hand

  15. Which measure tells you how quickly thermal energy passes through a material?

    • Electrical resistance
    • Thermal conductivity
    • Density
    • Melting point

  16. When two objects are in thermal equilibrium, what happens to their temperatures overall?

    • They both steadily rise in temperature until all of the energy is used up completely
    • The hotter one keeps getting hotter while the cooler one keeps getting colder
    • The cooler one keeps getting colder as energy flows out of the hotter object into it
    • They stay the same, with no net energy transfer

  17. Why is aluminium foil a poor insulator?

    • It stops all radiation from passing
    • It is too thin to hold any air
    • It absorbs thermal energy and holds it
    • It is a metal and conducts thermal energy well

  18. Which is an effective way to reduce energy loss through the gaps around a door?

    • Opening a window slightly
    • Painting the door a shiny silver
    • Removing the door seals
    • Fitting a draught excluder

  19. A hot metal bar is placed in cold water. Thermal energy transfers until what happens?

    • The bar stops losing energy at its hot end only
    • The bar and the water reach the same temperature
    • The bar becomes colder than the water
    • The water stops absorbing energy

  20. Which material would be the best choice for a cool box to keep food cold?

    • A thick foam layer with a sealed lid
    • A thick steel layer with an open top
    • A thin glass layer with a metal lid
    • A thin metal layer with an open lid

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