Unit 1: Thermal, nuclear, and electrical physics
Topic 1: Heating processes
Topic 2: Ionising radiation and nuclear reactions
Topic 3: Electrical circuits
SYLLABUS: NOTES: EXAMPLES:
Topic 1: Heating processes
Science understanding Kinetic The Kinetic Particle Model: Specific heat capacity:
particle model and specific heat Work is when a force is applied to an object, and it moves.
capacity.
• Describe the kinetic particle Energy is a measure of an object ability to do work.
model of matter.
Heat (measured in joules) is the transfer of thermal energy from
• Describe the concepts of a hotter to a colder body.
thermal energy, temperature,
kinetic energy, heat, and When a solid substance is ‘heated’, the particles within the
internal energy. material gain either kinetic energy (move faster) or potential
energy (move away from their equilibrium positions.)
• Explain heat transfers in terms
of conduction, convection, and The term internal energy refers to the total kinetic and potential
radiation. energy of the particles within a substance.
• Use 𝑇𝐾 = 𝑇𝐶 + 273 to convert Increase in Kinetic Energy = Increase in total internal Energy =
temperature measurements. Increase in temperature
• Explain that a change in Conduction:
temperature is due to the Important in solids.
addition or removal of energy Heat transfer without net movement of particle
Question:
from a system (without phase Heating a substance increases the vibrations of the
change). particles. This kinetic energy is passed to neighbouring
particles, spreading the kinetic energy.
• Describe the concept of Good conductors: transfer heat well Solution:
specific heat capacity. Insulators: Poor thermal conductors
,• Solve problems involving Convection:
specific heat capacity using 𝑄 = In fluids (liquid and gases)
𝑚c∆𝑇 (using but not limited to When the fluid is heated, particles gain kinetic energy and
𝑐𝑖 = 2.05 × 103 J kg−1 K−1, 𝑐𝑠 = push apart from each other.
2.00 × 103 J kg−1 K−1 and 𝑐𝑤 = Warmer regions of a fluid are less dense.
4.18 × 103 J kg−1 K−1.
Radiation:
• Explain, in terms of the Does not require stuff/particles to transfer heat.
internal energy of a system and
the kinetic particle model of Specific heat capacity:
Specific latent heat:
matter, why the temperature of 𝑄 = 𝑚c∆𝑇
a system remains the same Q: Heat/energy (J)
during the process of state m: Mass (kg)
change. c: Specific heat capacity (J/kg)
∆𝑇: Change in temperature (k)
The specific heat capacity of a material, c , is the amount of
energy that must be transferred to change the temperature of 1
kg of the material by 1 degrees C or 1K. Question and Solution:
Questions to Lock in for:
Specific heat capacity and latent heat:
, Solutions:
• Describe the concept of
specific latent heat.
• Solve problems involving
specific latent heat using 𝑄 =
𝑚L.
• Describe the concept of
thermal equilibrium in terms of
the temperature and average Specific latent heat:
kinetic energy of the particles in Q = mL
each of the systems. Q: Heat/energy (J)
m: Mass (kg)
• Explain the process in which L: Latent heat of the substance (J/kg)
thermal energy is transferred Challenge Question:
between two systems until Two forms:
thermal equilibrium is achieved Q = mLfusion
and recognise the relevance of Energy required to melt solid is exactly the same as the amount
this to the laws of of potential energy released when the liquid re-forms into a
thermodynamics. solid.
• Solve problems involving Q = mLvaporisation
specific heat capacity, specific Energy required to change a liquid to a gas exactly the same as
latent heat, and thermal the potential energy released when gas returns to a liquid.
equilibrium.
Questions to Lock in for:
• Explain how a system with
thermal energy the capacity has
to do mechanical work.
• Explain that the change in the
internal energy of a system is
equal to the energy added or
removed by heating plus the
Topic 1: Heating processes
Topic 2: Ionising radiation and nuclear reactions
Topic 3: Electrical circuits
SYLLABUS: NOTES: EXAMPLES:
Topic 1: Heating processes
Science understanding Kinetic The Kinetic Particle Model: Specific heat capacity:
particle model and specific heat Work is when a force is applied to an object, and it moves.
capacity.
• Describe the kinetic particle Energy is a measure of an object ability to do work.
model of matter.
Heat (measured in joules) is the transfer of thermal energy from
• Describe the concepts of a hotter to a colder body.
thermal energy, temperature,
kinetic energy, heat, and When a solid substance is ‘heated’, the particles within the
internal energy. material gain either kinetic energy (move faster) or potential
energy (move away from their equilibrium positions.)
• Explain heat transfers in terms
of conduction, convection, and The term internal energy refers to the total kinetic and potential
radiation. energy of the particles within a substance.
• Use 𝑇𝐾 = 𝑇𝐶 + 273 to convert Increase in Kinetic Energy = Increase in total internal Energy =
temperature measurements. Increase in temperature
• Explain that a change in Conduction:
temperature is due to the Important in solids.
addition or removal of energy Heat transfer without net movement of particle
Question:
from a system (without phase Heating a substance increases the vibrations of the
change). particles. This kinetic energy is passed to neighbouring
particles, spreading the kinetic energy.
• Describe the concept of Good conductors: transfer heat well Solution:
specific heat capacity. Insulators: Poor thermal conductors
,• Solve problems involving Convection:
specific heat capacity using 𝑄 = In fluids (liquid and gases)
𝑚c∆𝑇 (using but not limited to When the fluid is heated, particles gain kinetic energy and
𝑐𝑖 = 2.05 × 103 J kg−1 K−1, 𝑐𝑠 = push apart from each other.
2.00 × 103 J kg−1 K−1 and 𝑐𝑤 = Warmer regions of a fluid are less dense.
4.18 × 103 J kg−1 K−1.
Radiation:
• Explain, in terms of the Does not require stuff/particles to transfer heat.
internal energy of a system and
the kinetic particle model of Specific heat capacity:
Specific latent heat:
matter, why the temperature of 𝑄 = 𝑚c∆𝑇
a system remains the same Q: Heat/energy (J)
during the process of state m: Mass (kg)
change. c: Specific heat capacity (J/kg)
∆𝑇: Change in temperature (k)
The specific heat capacity of a material, c , is the amount of
energy that must be transferred to change the temperature of 1
kg of the material by 1 degrees C or 1K. Question and Solution:
Questions to Lock in for:
Specific heat capacity and latent heat:
, Solutions:
• Describe the concept of
specific latent heat.
• Solve problems involving
specific latent heat using 𝑄 =
𝑚L.
• Describe the concept of
thermal equilibrium in terms of
the temperature and average Specific latent heat:
kinetic energy of the particles in Q = mL
each of the systems. Q: Heat/energy (J)
m: Mass (kg)
• Explain the process in which L: Latent heat of the substance (J/kg)
thermal energy is transferred Challenge Question:
between two systems until Two forms:
thermal equilibrium is achieved Q = mLfusion
and recognise the relevance of Energy required to melt solid is exactly the same as the amount
this to the laws of of potential energy released when the liquid re-forms into a
thermodynamics. solid.
• Solve problems involving Q = mLvaporisation
specific heat capacity, specific Energy required to change a liquid to a gas exactly the same as
latent heat, and thermal the potential energy released when gas returns to a liquid.
equilibrium.
Questions to Lock in for:
• Explain how a system with
thermal energy the capacity has
to do mechanical work.
• Explain that the change in the
internal energy of a system is
equal to the energy added or
removed by heating plus the
