2012

CIE AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS

III Matter | y
 Phases of matter

Deformation of solids

Elastic Deformation
change of shape / size / length / dimension when (deforming) force is removed, returns to
original shape / size

extension added in series..

Strain Energy (elastic p.e.)

It is the ability to do work as a result of a change of shape of object.

Ideal gases

<c2> is the mean square speed/velocity of the atoms/molecules.

State what is meant by an ideal gas.

1. obeys the law pV/T = constant or any two named gas laws
2. at all values of p, V and T

cRMS depends on temperature (alone), so change in density causes no effect on its value.

Temperature

State, and explain, why it is incorrect to say that Temperature measures the amount of thermal
energy in the body.

1. e.g. two objects of different masses at same temperature (M1)

same material would have different amount of heat (A1)
2. e.g. temperature shows direction of heat transfer (M1)
from high to low regardless of objects (A1)
3. e.g. when substance melts/boils (M1)
heat input but no temperature change (A1)
 Thermal properties of materials

First Law of thermodynamics:

U = q + w

+U: increase in internal energy............................................................................... B1

+q: heating of / heat supplied to system................................................................. B1
+w: work done on system....................................................................................... B1

State what is by internal energy of a gas.

It is the sum of the random kinetic and potential energies of the molecules.

State two processes for which, thermal energy is required, during boiling.

1. increasing separation of molecules / breaking bonds between molecules B1

(allow atoms/molecules, overcome forces)
2. doing work against atmosphere (during expansion) B1

External work is done by boiling water because volume increases on evaporation so work is done against
atmospheric pressure.

During boiling, temperature remains constant so kinetic energy does not change but separation
between molecules increases hence potential energy increases and so does the internal energy.

Melting requires energy, but there is no change in temperature..!

1. (on melting,) bonds between molecules are broken/weakened

or molecules further apart/are able to slide over one another B1
2. kinetic energy unchanged so no temperature change B1
3. potential energy increased/changed so energy required B1

Advantages of thermocouple thermometer over resistance thermometer:

1. small thermal capacity/measure of small object/short response time

2. readings taken at a point/physically small
3. can be used to measure temperature difference
4. no power supply required

Specific latent heat of fusion

1. (thermal) energy/heat required to convert unit mass/1 kg of

2. solid to liquid M1
3. with no change in temperature/at melting point