Conduction
2.3.1What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad thermal conductors
- Describe thermal conduction in all solids in terms of atomic or molecular lattice vibrations and also in terms of the movement of free (delocalised) electrons in metallic conductors
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Chapter 2: Conduction
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Every question on Conduction, untimed, marked as you go.
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11 questions
1May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
AElectrons in the metal vibrate about fixed points and quickly pass energy from one electron to the next.
BElectrons move quickly from ions in hot regions to ions in cold regions.
CProtons in the metal are close together and move quickly from hot to cold regions.
DSmall ions of the metal move quickly from hot to cold regions through spaces in the metal lattice.
Mark scheme
2May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Aconduction
Bconvection
Cdiffraction
Drefraction
Mark scheme
3Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aclose together, no
Bclose together, yes
Cfar apart, no
Dfar apart, yes
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Athrough kettle: conduction; within water: conduction
Bthrough kettle: radiation; within water: convection
Cthrough kettle: conduction; within water: convection
Dthrough kettle: radiation; within water: conduction
Mark scheme
5May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AA hot solid expands, so its particles will move further apart.
BEnergy is transferred from one particle to the next.
CHeat always rises.
DMolecules are free to move randomly through the solids.
Mark scheme
6May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AAtomic vibration is passed on to neighbouring copper atoms slowly.
BAtoms move through the copper and pass on kinetic energy.
CThere are density changes within the copper.
DThere are free electrons in the copper.
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7May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
Aconduction through the wood by movement of molecules through the wood only
Bconduction through the metal by both the vibration of particles and movement of electrons through the steel
Cconduction through the wood by both the vibration and movement of molecules through the wood
Dconvection through the metal by movement of electrons through the steel only
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8May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q17Also set in May / June 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AEnergetic copper molecules move from the cooler end to the hotter end.
BEnergetic copper molecules move from the hotter end to the cooler end.
CEnergetic free electrons move from the cooler end to the hotter end.
DEnergetic free electrons move from the hotter end to the cooler end.
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AA hot solid expands, so its molecules will move further apart.
BEnergy is passed from one molecule to the next.
CHeat always rises.
DMolecules are free to move randomly through the solids.
Mark scheme
10May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Aair
Bmercury
Crubber
Dwater
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11Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Aair
Bice
Ciron
Dwater
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