Radiation
2.3.3What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the process of thermal energy transfer by infrared radiation and know that it does not require a medium
- Describe the effect of surface colour (black or white) and texture (dull or shiny) on the emission, absorption and reflection of infrared radiation
- Describe how the rate of emission of radiation depends on the surface temperature and surface area of an object
- Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad emitters of infrared radiation
- Describe experiments to distinguish between good and bad absorbers of infrared radiation
Read the notes first
Chapter 2: Radiation
Drill this topic
Every question on Radiation, untimed, marked as you go.
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Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
23 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
ABlack surfaces absorb radiation well.
BBlack surfaces conduct heat well.
CBlack surfaces emit radiation well.
DBlack surfaces reflect radiation well.
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AInfrared radiation cannot travel in a vacuum.
BInfrared radiation cannot travel in solids or in gases.
CInfrared radiation can only travel in a vacuum.
DInfrared radiation can travel in a vacuum and in gases.
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Ablack, rough
Bblack, shiny
Cwhite, rough
Dwhite, shiny
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Ablack and dull surface
Bblack and shiny surface
Cwhite and dull surface
Dwhite and shiny surface
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5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
A500, 120
B500, 480
C1000, 120
D1000, 480
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q21Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Agood emitter, good absorber and good reflector of radiation
Bgood emitter, poor absorber and poor reflector of radiation
Cgood emitter, good absorber and poor reflector of radiation
Dpoor emitter, poor absorber and poor reflector of radiation
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7Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Ablack and shiny
Bblack and dull
Cwhite and shiny
Dwhite and dull
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8May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
AThe container traps air which increases convection.
BThe foil is a poor thermal conductor.
CShiny metal foil is a good absorber of infrared radiation.
DShiny metal foil is a poor emitter of infrared radiation.
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9Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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10Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Aconduction
Bconvection
Cevaporation
Dradiation
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11May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Aconduction only
Bconvection only
Cradiation only
Dconduction, convection and radiation
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12May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Adull black
Bdull white
Cshiny black
Dshiny white
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13Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Ablack and shiny
Bblack and dull
Cwhite and shiny
Dwhite and dull
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14May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Aconduction only
Bconvection only
Cradiation only
Dconduction and radiation
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15May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Alarge face painted black
Blarge face painted white
Csmall face painted black
Dsmall face painted white
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16May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q21Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AInfrared radiation cannot travel in a vacuum.
BInfrared radiation cannot travel in solids or in gases.
CInfrared radiation can only travel in a vacuum.
DInfrared radiation can travel in a vacuum and in gases.
Mark scheme
17May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q25Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Adull black
Bpolished silver
Cdull black
Dpolished silver
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18Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Aabsorbs most radiation: dull black; reflects most radiation: dull white
Babsorbs most radiation: dull black; reflects most radiation: shiny white
Cabsorbs most radiation: shiny black; reflects most radiation: dull black
Dabsorbs most radiation: shiny white; reflects most radiation: dull black
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19Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Aa darker coloured surface
Ba higher surface temperature
Ca larger surface area
Da shinier surface
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20May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aleast: dull black, most: shiny silver
Bleast: dull silver, most: shiny black
Cleast: shiny black, most: dull silver
Dleast: shiny silver, most: dull black
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21Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
ATransfer by radiation does not require a medium.
BTransfer is from a region of lower temperature to one of higher temperature.
CTransfer upwards in fluids is mainly through the vibrations of neighbouring particles.
DTransfer in solids is by means of density changes in the material.
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22May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
AIn a vacuum, thermal radiation travels at the speed of light.
BThermal radiation is a longitudinal wave.
CThermal radiation travels as an ultra-violet wave.
DWhite surfaces are better emitters of thermal radiation than black surfaces.
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23May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Aconduction and convection
Bconduction only
Cconvection and radiation
Dradiation only
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