Specific heat capacity
2.2.2What the syllabus asks of you
- Know that an increase in the temperature of an object increases its internal energy
- Describe an increase in temperature of an object in terms of an increase in the average kinetic energies of all of the particles in the object
- Define specific heat capacity as the energy required per unit mass per unit temperature increase; recall and use the equation specific heat capacity = change in energy / mass × change in temperature c = ∆E / m∆θ
- Describe experiments to measure the specific heat capacity of a solid and of a liquid
Read the notes first
Chapter 2: Specific heat capacity
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Every question on Specific heat capacity, 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.
18 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A20 J / (kg °C)
B30 J / (kg °C)
C1200 J / (kg °C)
D1800 J / (kg °C)
Mark scheme
2May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
A1, 3, 4 and 5
B1, 3, 6 and 7
C2, 3, 4 and 6
D3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Mark scheme
3May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Athe difference between the boiling temperature and the melting temperature of the liquid
Bthe energy required to change the state of 1 kg of the liquid
Cthe energy required to heat 1 kg of the liquid through 1 °C
Dthe increase in temperature of the liquid when it is heated
Mark scheme
4Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Am × specific heat capacity of iron × (θ₁ – θ₂)
Bm × specific heat capacity of iron × θ₂
Cm × heat capacity of piece of iron × (θ₁ – θ₂)
Dm × heat capacity of piece of iron × θ₂
Mark scheme
5May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AC, J / °C
BC, J / (kg °C)
CH, J / °C
DH, J / (kg °C)
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
ACopper has a higher melting point.
BCopper has a lower specific heat capacity.
CCopper has a smaller specific latent heat.
DCopper is a better conductor of thermal energy.
Mark scheme
7Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
A0.69 °C
B4.1 °C
C5.1 °C
D41 °C
Mark scheme
8May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Athe amount of thermal energy that the body can absorb without melting
Bthe amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of the body by 1.0 °C
Cthe amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of 1.0 kg of the body by 1.0 °C
Dthe amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of 1.0 m³ of the body by 1.0 °C
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q21Show mark scheme →
AJ
BJ / g
CJ / °C
DJ / (g °C)
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10Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Akinetic energy: increase; potential energy: increase
Bkinetic energy: increase; potential energy: decrease
Ckinetic energy: decrease; potential energy: increase
Dkinetic energy: decrease; potential energy: decrease
Mark scheme
11Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Athe heat capacity of the nail
Bthe latent heat of the nail
Cthe specific heat capacity of steel
Dthe specific latent heat of steel
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12May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Aheat capacity
Binternal energy
Cspecific heat capacity
Dspecific latent heat
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13May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Ainsulating the container
Bplacing a lid on the container
Cpolishing the outer surface of the container
Dmoving the thermometer closer to the heater
Mark scheme
14Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
A0.50 × 130 × 25
B0.50 × 130 × 35
C\frac{0.50 \times 130}{25}
D\frac{0.50 \times 130}{35}
Mark scheme
15May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q20Show mark scheme →
ACopper has a larger specific heat capacity.
BCopper has a larger specific latent heat.
CCopper has a smaller specific heat capacity.
DCopper has a smaller specific latent heat.
Mark scheme
16Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
A0.32 J
B0.50 J
C500 J
D800 J
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17Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Athe maximum thermal energy it can store per unit mass
Bthe maximum thermal energy it can store per unit volume
Cthe thermal energy required to cause a unit temperature rise
Dthe thermal energy required to raise its temperature to its melting point
Mark scheme
18Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Acopper has a higher specific heat capacity than water
Bcopper has a lower specific heat capacity than water
Ccopper is a better conductor of heat than water
Dcopper is a poorer conductor of heat than water
Mark scheme