Physics - Year 11 - HEAT & TEMP

Explain clearly, the difference between temperature and heat

Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is. It tells us how fast the particles in a substance are moving. The faster they move, the higher the temperature.

Heat is a form of energy that flows from something hotter to something colder. It's the energy transferred because of a difference in temperature.

State unit for temperature

degree Celsius (°C)

give the symbol for temperature and the symbol for its unit

Symbol for temperature: 𝑇

Symbol for its unit (degree Celsius): ∘C

state the unit for heat

The unit for heat is the joule.

Symbol: J

give the symbol for heat and the symbol for its unit

Symbol for heat: Q

Symbol for its unit: J (joule)

describe the features of liquid-in-glass thermometer and hot it works

Features of a Liquid-in-Glass Thermometer:

Glass tube with a liquid inside (like mercury or colored alcohol)

Bulb at the bottom to hold the liquid

Thin tube (capillary) where the liquid moves

Scale to show the temperature (like °C)

How It Works:

When it gets hot, the liquid expands and goes up the tube.

When it gets cold, the liquid contracts and goes down.

The height of the liquid shows the temperature on the scale.

describe 2 other types of thermometer and how they work

1. Digital Thermometer

How it works:

It uses a sensor to measure temperature.

The sensor changes electrical signals based on how hot or cold something is.

The result shows as a number on a small screen.

Used for: Checking body temperature quickly and easily.

2. Infrared Thermometer

How it works:

It detects heat (infrared radiation) coming from an object or person.

It then turns that heat into a temperature reading.

You just point it at the surface—no touching needed.

Used for:Measuring temperature from a distance, like on a forehead or in cooking.

list the 3 general types of heat transfer.

Conduction

Convection

Radiation

Use the idea of particle movement to explain in detail how conduction works.

Particles in a solid are tightly packed and vibrate in place.

When one part of the solid gets hot, its particles vibrate faster.

These fast-moving particles bump into nearby particles, making them vibrate faster too.

This process keeps happening, and heat travels from the hot part to the cooler part.

state the type of material that makes a good heat conductor and give some examples.

(METALS)

Copper

Aluminum

Silver

Gold

Iron

state another name for materials which are poor heat conductors and give some examples.

(INSULATORS)

Wood

Rubber

Plastic

Glass

Wool

state what types of matter are required for convection.

Convection requires liquids and gases.

use the idea of particle movement to explain in detail how convection works.

Heating: When a liquid or gas gets heated, the particles move faster and spread out, making them less dense.

Rising: The less dense, hot particles rise to the top.

Cooling: As the hot particles move away from the heat, they cool down, become denser, and sink.

Cycle: The cooled particles get heated again, rise, cool, and sink, creating a cycle called a convection current.

describe the main characteristics of the radiation which transfers heat energy.

No Need for a Medium: Radiation can travel through empty space, so it doesn't need air or any material.

Electromagnetic Waves: Heat moves as invisible waves (like infrared) that carry energy.

Travels in Straight Lines: Radiation moves in straight lines in all directions.

Can Be Absorbed: Objects absorb radiation and get warmer.

No Touching Needed: Heat can transfer without any direct contact, like from the Sun to the Earth.

describe the similarities and differences between materials which are good absorbers, good

refl ectors and good emitters of heat radiation.

Absorbers: Dark, rough surfaces absorb heat.

Reflectors: Light, shiny surfaces reflect heat.

Emitters: Dark, rough surfaces give off heat.

describe practical situations or devices which involve each of the following:

conduction, convection, insulation, refl ection of heat radiation, absorption of heat radiation,

emission of heat radiation.

1. Conduction:

Spoon in hot soup

Iron

2. Convection:

Boiling water

Fan heater

3. Insulation:

Winter coat

Thermos

4. Reflection of Heat Radiation:

Car sunshade

Solar cooker

5. Absorption of Heat Radiation:

Black clothes in the sun

Solar panel

6. Emission of Heat Radiation:

Stove burner

Radiator

name the 3 states of matter and name the 6 change-in-state processes which are possible.

3 States of Matter:

Solid

Liquid

Gas

6 Change-in-State Processes:

Melting (Solid to Liquid)

Freezing (Liquid to Solid)

Vaporization (Liquid to Gas)

Condensation (Gas to Liquid)

Sublimation (Solid to Gas)

Deposition (Gas to Solid)

sketch and describe the main features of an idealised heating curve and an idealised cooling

curve.

...

explain the term specific heat capacity and why most materials have 3 specific heat

capacities.

It's the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of a material by 1°C.

Solids: The heat needed to raise the temperature of a solid is different from liquids and gases.

Liquids: In the liquid state, particles are more spread out, so it takes a different amount of heat to change the temperature.

Gases: Gases have particles much farther apart, so they need a different amount of heat for the same temperature change.

explain the term latent heat and why there are 2 kinds of latent heat.

Latent Heat:

It's the energy needed to change a substance's state (like from solid to liquid or liquid to gas) without changing its temperature.

Why 2 Kinds of Latent Heat:

Latent Heat of Fusion:The heat needed to change a solid into a liquid (e.g., ice melting into water).

Latent Heat of Vaporization:The heat needed to change a liquid into a gas (e.g., water boiling into steam).

The 2 Isotopes of hydrogen

Deuterium and Tritium

2 isotope types

unstable and stable

equation for heat

Q = mcΔT,
heat = mass x specific heat capacity x change in temperature

equation for latent heat

Q = mL,
heat = mass x specific latent heat

equation for energy

E = Pt
energy transformed, power x time

latent heat

the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a unit mass of a substance without a change of phase.

specific heat capacity

the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius, without changing its phase.

What makes a beta particle a beta particle?

a beta particle emmitted during radioactive decay is very fast and can travel several feet in the air and penetrate thin materials, like aluminum foil. However, they can be stopped by thicker materials like wood or aluminium of 5mm. Beta particles are ionising, but not as much as alpha particles. They cannot be considered radioactive. travels at 9/10 the speed of light

what makes an alpha particle, an alpha particle?

An alpha particle is a type of ionising radiation consisting of two protons and two neutrons, emitted during radioactive decay. It travels only a short distance in air and is easily stopped by materials like paper or skin, making it less penetrating than beta particles. It is the most ionising out all three. Travels at 0.1x the speed of light

what makes a gamma ray, a gamma ray?

A gamma ray is a high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay. Unlike alpha and beta particles, gamma rays have no mass or charge, allowing them to penetrate materials more deeply, requiring dense substances like lead for effective shielding. It can’t ionise matter as strongly as alpha or beta particles. Travels at speed of light