P1 Thermal Energy

Foundation

61 minutes
61 marks

Page 1 of 20

Q1.

A student did two experiments on radiation. The apparatus he used is shown in the diagram.

Experiment 1

The student put the same volume of cold water into the two cans.
He then switched on the heater.
Ten minutes later the water in the can with the dull black surface was much hotter than the
water in the other can.

Experiment 2

The student filled both cans with boiling water.

This time he left the heater off.
Ten minutes later the water in the can with the dull black surface was much cooler than
the water in the other can.

Use words from the box to complete the sentences.

absorber

conductor

emitter

reflector

Experiment 1 shows that the dull black surface is a good ........................... of radiation and that
the shiny silver surface is a good ......................... of radiation.
Experiment 2 shows that the dull black surface is a good ................................... of radiation.
(Total 3 marks)

Page 2 of 20

Q2.

(a)

Infra red radiation can be reflected, absorbed and transmitted by glass.

(i)

What percentage of infra red is absorbed by the glass?

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Complete the following sentence by drawing a ring around the correct word or
phrase.
increases
The absorbed infra red

does not change

the temperature of the glass.

decreases
(1)

(b)

Two of the following statements are true. One of the statements is false.
Tick ( ) the boxes next to the two true statements.
All objects absorb infra red radiation.
Black surfaces are poor emitters of infra red radiation.
A hot object emits more infra red than a cooler object.
(1)

(c)

The following statement is false.

Black surfaces are good reflectors of infra red radiation.
Change one word in this statement to make it true.
Write down your new statement.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

Page 3 of 20

Q3.

(a) The graph compares how quickly hot water cooled down in two glass beakers with
different surface areas.
The volume of water in each beaker was the same.

Describe how the surface area of the water affected how fast the water cooled down.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Some foxes live in a hot desert environment.

This type of fox has very large ears.

Explain how the size of the foxs ears help it to keep cool in a hot desert.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 4 of 20

(c)

Polar bears and reindeer are adapted to live in cold environments.

Use the words in the box to complete the following sentences.

conduction
(i)

convection

radiation

The white colour of a polar bears fur helps to keep the polar bear warm by
reducing the heat lost by .................................................. .
(1)

(ii)

The hairs of a reindeer are hollow. The air trapped inside the hairs reduces the
heat lost by .................................................. .
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Q4.

Marbles inside a box can be used as a model for the particles in a solid, a liquid or a gas.

Use words from the box to complete the following sentences. Each word can be used once,
more than once or not at all.
gas
(a)

liquid

solid

The particles in a ............................................ vibrate about fixed positions.

(1)

(b)

The particles in a .......................................... move at high speed in any direction.

(1)

Page 5 of 20

(c)

The particles in a ............................................ are arranged in a pattern.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

Q5.

Marbles inside a box can be used as a model for the particles in a solid, a liquid or a gas.

Use words from the box to complete the following sentences. Each word can be used once,
more than once or not at all.
gas
(a)

liquid

solid

The particles in a ............................................ vibrate about fixed positions.

(1)

(b)

The particles in a .......................................... move at high speed in any direction.

(1)

(c)

The particles in a ............................................ are arranged in a pattern.

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

Page 6 of 20

Q6.

(a) The graph compares how quickly hot water cooled down in two glass beakers with
different surface areas.
The volume of water in each beaker was the same.

Describe how the surface area of the water affected how fast the water cooled down.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Some foxes live in a hot desert environment.

This type of fox has very large ears.

Explain how the size of the foxs ears help it to keep cool in a hot desert.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

Page 7 of 20

(c)

Polar bears and reindeer are adapted to live in cold environments.

Use the words in the box to complete the following sentences.

conduction
(i)

convection

radiation

The white colour of a polar bears fur helps to keep the polar bear warm by
reducing the heat lost by .................................................. .
(1)

(ii)

The hairs of a reindeer are hollow. The air trapped inside the hairs reduces the
heat lost by .................................................. .
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Q7.

(a) The graph shows the temperature inside a flat between 5 pm and 9 pm. The central
heating was on at 5 pm.

Page 8 of 20

(i)

What time did the central heating switch off?

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Closing the curtains reduces heat loss from the flat.

What time do you think the curtains were closed?
...........................................................................................................................
Give a reason for your answer.
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

Less heat is lost through double-glazed windows than through single-glazed windows.

Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct words from the box. Each word
may be used once or not at all.

conduction

conductor

convection evaporation

insulator radiation

Air is a good ........................................... . When trapped between two sheets of glass it

reduces heat loss by .......................................... and ....................................................
(3)

Page 9 of 20

(c)

The table gives information about three types of house insulation.

Cost to
install

Money save each

year on heating
bills

Payback time

Double glazing

4000

200

20 years

Loft insulation

300

100

3 years

Cavity wall insulation

600

150

Type of insulation

(i)

Use the information in the table to calculate the payback time for cavity wall
insulation.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Explain why people often install loft insulation before installing double glazing or cavity
wall insulation.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q8.

Many people use a sleeping bag when they sleep in a tent. Sleeping bags, designed to keep
a person warm, have a fibre filling.

(i)

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct words from the box.
conduction

convection

radiation

The fibre is designed to reduce heat transfer by ..................................... and

.......................................

Page 10 of 20

(ii)

Explain why the fibre is good at reducing heat loss from a person sleeping in the bag.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(Total 3 marks)

Q9.

(a)

(i)

The diagram shows hot water being poured into a mug.

Complete the sentence by choosing the correct words from the box. Each word may
be used once or not at all.
air

mug

table

water

Heat energy is being transferred from the ...................................................... to

the ........................................................... .
(1)

(ii)

When will this transfer of heat energy stop?

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 11 of 20

(b)

In the box are the names of four types of fuel used to heat homes.
coal

gas

oil

wood

Which one of these types of fuel is renewable?

.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

The diagram shows where heat energy is lost from a house.

(i)

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct words from the box. Each word
may be used once or not at all.
conduction

conductor

convection

electric

evaporation

insulator

The amount of heat energy lost through the windows by

....................................................... can be reduced by using thick curtains. The
curtains trap a layer of air and air is a good ................................................... .
The curtains will also stop .................................................... currents pulling
cold air into the room through small gaps in the window.
(3)

(ii)

Write down one other way of reducing heat loss from a house.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 12 of 20

Q10.

Energy consultants tell their customers how to save money. They explain how people can
reduce energy loss from their homes.
This picture shows the percentage energy loss from different parts of a house.

(a)

Heat can be transferred through materials in different ways.

(i)

What is the main way heat is transferred around a room in a house?

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

What is the main way heat is transferred through the walls of a house?
.............................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Calculate the percentage energy loss through the walls of the house.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

Suggest the two most effective methods of reducing heat loss for this house.
1 ...................................................................................................................
2 ...................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 13 of 20

Q11.

The diagrams show the cross-section of three double glazed windows.

The gap between the two sheets of glass can be filled with either air or a mixture of air and
argon.
The U-values for different types of double glazed windows, using different types of glass
X and Y, are given in the table.

Type of window

(a)

12 mm
gap

16 mm
gap

20 mm
gap

Glass type X with air

2.9

2.7

2.8

Glass type X with air and argon

2.7

2.6

2.6

Glass type Y with air

1.9

1.8

1.8

Glass type Y with air and argon

1.6

1.5

1.5

Which type of window, 1, 2, 3 or 4 is the least energy efficient?

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Which two windows should be compared to decide if adding argon to the gap improves the
energy efficiency of the window?
........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 14 of 20

(c)

A householder is going to buy new windows. The sales assistant recommends that the
householder buys windows with a 20 mm gap. These windows are much more expensive
than those with a 16 mm gap.
It is not worth the householder paying the extra cost to buy 20 mm windows rather than
16 mm windows.
Explain this in terms of energy efficiency.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
(2)

(d)

Windows are given an energy rating, from A down to G. The diagram shows the energy
label from one type of double glazed window.

All new double glazed windows must have an energy rating of C or above.
Windows having a C rating have a U-value of 1.9.
Which windows given in the table would the householder be unable to buy?
........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 15 of 20

(e)

Glass transmits infrared radiation and visible light. The amount transmitted depends on the
type and thickness of the glass. The data from tests on two different types of glass is
displayed in the graph below.

A homeowner has a glass conservatory built on the back of the house. The homeowner
tells the builder that the inside of the conservatory should stay as cool as possible
throughout the summer.
Explain why the builder uses Type B glass for the conservatory.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 16 of 20

Q12.

The diagrams show the cross-section of three double glazed windows.

The gap between the two sheets of glass can be filled with either air or a mixture of air and
argon.
The U-values for different types of double glazed windows, using different types of glass
X and Y, are given in the table.

Type of window

(a)

12 mm
gap

16 mm
gap

20 mm
gap

Glass type X with air

2.9

2.7

2.8

Glass type X with air and argon

2.7

2.6

2.6

Glass type Y with air

1.9

1.8

1.8

Glass type Y with air and argon

1.6

1.5

1.5

Which type of window, 1, 2, 3 or 4 is the least energy efficient?

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Which two windows should be compared to decide if adding argon to the gap improves the
energy efficiency of the window?
........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 17 of 20

(c)

A householder is going to buy new windows. The sales assistant recommends that the
householder buys windows with a 20 mm gap. These windows are much more expensive
than those with a 16 mm gap.
It is not worth the householder paying the extra cost to buy 20 mm windows rather than
16 mm windows.
Explain this in terms of energy efficiency.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
(2)

(d)

Windows are given an energy rating, from A down to G. The diagram shows the energy
label from one type of double glazed window.

All new double glazed windows must have an energy rating of C or above.
Windows having a C rating have a U-value of 1.9.
Which windows given in the table would the householder be unable to buy?
........................................................................................................................
(1)

Page 18 of 20

(e)

Glass transmits infrared radiation and visible light. The amount transmitted depends on the
type and thickness of the glass. The data from tests on two different types of glass is
displayed in the graph below.

A homeowner has a glass conservatory built on the back of the house. The homeowner
tells the builder that the inside of the conservatory should stay as cool as possible
throughout the summer.
Explain why the builder uses Type B glass for the conservatory.
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 19 of 20

Page 20 of 20