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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

SLPaper 1A

Two iron cubes $A$ and $B$ have side lengths $L$ and $2L$ respectively. When a temperature difference is placed across two opposite faces of cube $A$ , the power transferred across the cube is $P$ . When the same temperature difference is placed across two opposite faces of cube $B$ , what is the power transferred across the cube in terms of $P$ ?

Question 7

SLPaper 2

A $1.00\ \text{kg}$ block of ice at $0^\circ\text{C}$ is melted completely into water at $0^\circ\text{C}$ using a heater that supplies $500\ \text{W}$ of power. The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is $3.34 \times 10^5\ \text{J kg}^{-1}$ .

State the meaning of specific latent heat of fusion.

[1]

Calculate the energy required to melt the ice.

[2]

Determine the time taken to melt the ice.

[2]

Describe what happens to the internal energy of the substance during this process.

[2]

Explain why the temperature does not change during melting.

[1]

Question 8

SLPaper 2

A gas is contained in a sealed container at a temperature of $27^\circ\text{C}$ . The pressure inside the container is due to the motion of gas particles.

State the physical meaning of temperature in terms of particle motion.

[1]

Calculate the temperature of the gas on the kelvin scale.

[1]

Explain what happens to the internal energy of the gas if the temperature increases.

[2]

Question 9

SLPaper 1A

A probe is at rest on the surface of an asteroid. By which of the following methods can it lose heat?

I. Conduction

II. Convection

III. Radiation

Question 10

SLPaper 1A

Why does evaporation cause cooling?

Topic A - Space, time and motion5 subtopics

Topic B - The particulate nature of matter5 subtopics

Topic C - Wave behaviour5 subtopics

Topic D - Fields4 subtopics

Topic E - Nuclear and quantum physics5 subtopics

B.1 Thermal energy transfers Questionbank