Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases
2.2.1What the syllabus asks of you
- Explain applications and consequences of thermal expansion in the context of common examples, including the liquid-in-glass thermometer
- Explain, in terms of the motion and arrangement of particles, the thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, and state the relative order of magnitudes of the expansion of solids, liquids and gases
- Convert temperatures between kelvin and degrees Celsius; recall and use the equation T (in K) = θ (in °C) + 273
Read the notes first
Chapter 2: Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases
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Every question on Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, 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.
39 questions
1May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q13Show mark scheme →
AThe forces are strong so solids expand less than liquids and gases.
BThe forces are strong so solids expand more than liquids and gases.
CThe forces are weak so solids expand less than liquids and gases.
DThe forces are weak so solids expand more than liquids and gases.
Mark scheme
2Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
A791 K
B964 K
C1164 K
D1337 K
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3May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Alength of the thermometer
Bmass of the liquid
Cspecific heat capacity of the liquid
Dvolume of the liquid
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4May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
AP, Q and R
BP and Q only
CP only
DQ and R only
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5Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q20Also set in Oct / Nov 2022 Paper 11, May / June 2018 Paper 11, May / June 2018 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
Agreatest sensitivity: P; greatest range: R
Bgreatest sensitivity: P; greatest range: S
Cgreatest sensitivity: Q; greatest range: R
Dgreatest sensitivity: Q; greatest range: S
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6May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Aits greater heat capacity
Bits smaller temperature range
Cits quicker response time
Dit has a non-linear output
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7May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q18Also set in May / June 2022 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A2.3 cm
B3.0 cm
C5.0 cm
D7.0 cm
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8May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q19Also set in May / June 2022 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AIt has greater sensitivity and a greater range.
BIt has greater sensitivity but a smaller range.
CIt has the same sensitivity and the same range.
DIt has the same sensitivity but a greater range.
Mark scheme
9May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Agas → liquid → solid
Bliquid → solid → gas
Csolid → gas → liquid
Dsolid → liquid → gas
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10Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Afreezing point of mercury / boiling point of mercury
Bfreezing point of water / boiling point of water
Croom temperature / boiling point of mercury
Droom temperature / boiling point of water
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11Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Agreater / greater
Bgreater / smaller
Csmaller / greater
Dsmaller / smaller
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12May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q17Show mark scheme →
Ameasures very high temperatures: no; responds quickly to change in temperature: no
Bmeasures very high temperatures: no; responds quickly to change in temperature: yes
Cmeasures very high temperatures: yes; responds quickly to change in temperature: no
Dmeasures very high temperatures: yes; responds quickly to change in temperature: yes
Mark scheme
13May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q19Show mark scheme →
A1
B2
C3
D4
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14May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q20Also set in May / June 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Athe constriction
Bthe diameter of the bore
Cthe length of the glass tube
Dthe thickness of the glass tube
Mark scheme
15May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
ALiquids do not expand.
BLiquids expand more than gases but less than solids.
CLiquids expand more than solids but less than gases.
DLiquids expand the same amount as solids but less than gases.
Mark scheme
16Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
Ahow to calculate weight using the extension of a spring
Bhow to calibrate a thermometer
Chow to determine pressure with a manometer
Dhow to measure volume with a measuring cylinder
Mark scheme
17Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Athe length of a metal bar
Bthe mass of a plastic block
Cthe pressure of a gas
Dthe resistance of a wire
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18May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q10Show mark scheme →
Adensity
Bmass
Ctemperature
Dvolume
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19May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
AIt covers a much larger range than an ordinary laboratory thermometer.
BIt is more sensitive than an ordinary laboratory thermometer.
CIts scale is not linear.
DIts sensitivity is affected by the constriction in the capillary tube.
Mark scheme
20May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AA gas at constant pressure expands.
BA metal rod becomes longer, but its volume remains constant.
CA liquid contracts and then expands.
DThe hole in the centre of a metal disc becomes smaller.
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
Adecrease the length of the capillary
Bdecrease the thickness of glass around the bulb
Cincrease the diameter of the capillary
Dincrease the volume of liquid in the bulb
Mark scheme
22Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AIts density decreases and its mass decreases.
BIts density decreases and its volume increases.
CIts density increases and its mass decreases.
DIts density increases and its volume increases.
Mark scheme
23Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AThe flask contracts and the water expands.
BThe flask contracts more than the water contracts.
CThe flask expands and the water contracts.
DThe flask expands less than the water expands.
Mark scheme
24Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q17Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AIt is 1 °C lower.
BIt is the same.
CIt is 1 °C higher.
DIt is 2 °C higher.
Mark scheme
25May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q18Show mark scheme →
Amore sensitive thermometer: X; thermometer with the larger range: X
Bmore sensitive thermometer: X; thermometer with the larger range: Y
Cmore sensitive thermometer: Y; thermometer with the larger range: X
Dmore sensitive thermometer: Y; thermometer with the larger range: Y
Mark scheme
26May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AThe lowest measureable temperature is the same on P and on Q.
BThe range of P is equal to the range of Q.
CThe scales on P and Q are both linear.
DThe sensitivity of P is equal to the sensitivity of Q.
Mark scheme
27May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
AThe flask contracts and then the air expands.
BThe flask expands and then the air contracts.
CThe flask expands and then the air expands less than the flask.
DThe flask expands and then the air expands more than the flask.
Mark scheme
28Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q15Show mark scheme →
Acool the lid only
Bput the jar and lid in a refrigerator
Cwarm the jar only
Dwarm the lid only
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29Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Adifferent / different
Bdifferent / same
Csame / different
Dsame / same
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30May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q19Show mark scheme →
AThe molecules do not change size and the spaces between the molecules become larger.
BThe molecules expand and the spaces between the molecules become larger.
CThe molecules expand and the spaces between the molecules become smaller.
DThe molecules expand and the spaces between the molecules do not change size.
Mark scheme
31May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Aa vacuum
Balcohol
Csteam
Dwater
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32Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
A40 °C
B60 °C
C80 °C
D88 °C
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33Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q17Show mark scheme →
AIt can measure rapidly varying temperatures.
BIt must be made from three different metals.
CIts resistance decreases when one junction is heated.
DThe distance between the two junctions increases as the temperature increases.
Mark scheme
34May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
A0.0 cm
B2.8 cm
C4.0 cm
D8.0 cm
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35May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AIt has a range of 7 °C.
BThere are equal distances between each °C mark on the scale.
CThere is a constriction in the tube at X.
DThere is a large distance between each °C mark on the scale.
Mark scheme
36May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Aconvection
Bevaporation
Cexpansion
Dradiation
Mark scheme
37May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Asmall bulb, narrow tube
Blarge bulb, wide tube
Csmall bulb, wide tube
Dlarge bulb, narrow tube
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38Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q23Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AThe amount of liquid in the bulb is small.
BThe bore of the capillary tube is narrow.
CThe capillary tube is long.
DThe glass bulb has a thin wall.
Mark scheme
39May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q14Show mark scheme →
Alarger range: P; greater sensitivity: P
Blarger range: P; greater sensitivity: Q
Clarger range: Q; greater sensitivity: P
Dlarger range: Q; greater sensitivity: Q
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