Lesson T6.2.1

T6.2.1 Particles, temperature and internal energy Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T6.2.1, Particles, temperature and internal energy: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 6: Matter and particles, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What does the temperature of a substance measure?

    • The number of atoms in each particle
    • The size of each particle
    • The total mass of its particles
    • The average kinetic energy of its particles

  2. What happens to the particles of a substance when it is heated?

    • They stop moving
    • They all become the same size
    • They move faster on average
    • They become heavier

  3. When a substance is heated, what happens to the spacing between its particles?

    • It stays exactly the same
    • It decreases, so the substance shrinks
    • The particles fuse together
    • It usually increases, so the substance expands

  4. What is internal energy?

    • The energy of a substance moving as one object
    • The total energy stored in the particles of a substance
    • The energy from an external battery
    • The energy of light passing through a material

  5. What happens to the internal energy of a substance when it is heated?

    • It increases
    • It stays exactly the same
    • It decreases
    • It disappears

  6. Which statement about heat flow is correct?

    • Energy flows only between two objects of equal temperature
    • Energy flows from a cooler object to a hotter object
    • Energy never flows between objects
    • Energy flows from a hotter object to a cooler object

  7. What is thermal equilibrium?

    • A state where energy is destroyed as the two objects get warmer and warmer over time
    • A state where an object stops emitting light because it has cooled down to room temperature
    • A state where two objects have reached the same temperature and no net energy flows
    • A state where one object is hotter than another, so energy keeps flowing between them

  8. A hot metal block is placed in cold water. What happens to the temperature difference over time?

    • It reverses direction so that the cold water heats the metal
    • It stays the same forever because heat never leaves the metal block
    • It increases steadily as heat keeps flowing into the cold water
    • It reduces until both reach the same temperature

  9. Why does a metal spoon in hot soup get hot quickly?

    • The metal creates new heat energy inside the spoon as it warms
    • The spoon is attracted to the heat in the soup by a force
    • The spoon absorbs the soup's mass and grows heavier as it warms
    • Energy is transferred through the metal by particle collisions

  10. Two equal masses of water are at different temperatures. Which one has more internal energy?

    • They have the same internal energy regardless of temperature
    • The water with the larger surface area
    • The colder water, because it is more dense
    • The hotter water, because its particles have more energy on average

  11. What happens to the particles in a solid when its temperature rises?

    • They move in straight lines across the solid
    • They vibrate more strongly about their fixed positions
    • They break free and fly apart
    • They stop vibrating

  12. What happens to a gas if it is heated in a sealed container?

    • Its particles get smaller as the temperature climbs in the sealed box
    • Its particles move faster and hit the walls harder, raising the pressure
    • Its particles stop moving and settle against the bottom of the box
    • Its pressure falls to zero because the heated particles leave the gas

  13. Why does a bridge have gaps between its sections in hot weather?

    • The steel shrinks when heated, so the gaps are needed
    • The steel expands when heated, so the gaps prevent buckling
    • The gaps let the bridge float
    • The gaps stop the bridge from being heated

  14. Which change in a substance's particles is linked to a rise in temperature?

    • A decrease in the average speed of the particles
    • A change in the mass of each particle
    • A decrease in the number of particles
    • An increase in the average speed of the particles

  15. A kettle heats water from 20 °C to 80 °C. What has happened to the water's internal energy?

    • It has been destroyed
    • It has stayed the same
    • It has increased
    • It has decreased

  16. Which of these would reduce the internal energy of a substance?

    • Adding more of the same substance to the sealed container
    • Heating it in a closed container that is sealed up tight
    • Compressing it into a smaller space by pushing hard on it
    • Allowing it to cool down to a lower temperature

  17. Why does thermal energy transfer slow down as two objects get closer in temperature?

    • The objects change into a different substance as they warm up
    • The objects stop having any particles once they reach equal heat
    • The temperature difference is smaller, so less energy flows
    • The objects become much heavier as their temperatures get closer

  18. What does a thermometer rely on to measure temperature?

    • A liquid expanding as its particles gain energy
    • A magnet attracting a metal bar placed in the middle of the room
    • A lens focusing light from a lamp onto the screen in front
    • A battery producing a voltage across a resistor in the circuit

  19. A cup of tea cools in a room. Which statement describes the energy flow?

    • No energy moves because the air in the room is still and calm
    • Energy is created inside the tea as it cools down in the room
    • Energy moves from the tea to the cooler air around it
    • Energy moves from the cooler air into the warm tea in the cup

  20. Why does a metal feel colder than wood at the same room temperature?

    • Metal is colder than wood at room temperature, so it feels cold
    • Wood absorbs energy from the air around it and feels warmer
    • Metal has less internal energy than wood at the same temperature
    • Metal conducts energy away from your hand faster than wood does

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