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Thermal Physics Flashcards
Free A Level Physics Revision Cards
Cover specific heat capacity, latent heat, Boyle's Law, Charles's Law, and the ideal gas equation with these free Physics flashcards. Ideal for A Level Physics and AS Level revision.
Question
What is internal energy?
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Answer
The sum of the kinetic energy (random motion) and potential energy (intermolecular forces) of all particles in a substance. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy.
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Question
What is specific heat capacity?
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Answer
The energy required to raise 1 kg of a substance by 1°C (or 1 K). Q = mcΔT, where m = mass, c = specific heat capacity, ΔT = temperature change.
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Question
What is specific latent heat?
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Answer
The energy required to change the state of 1 kg of a substance without changing its temperature. Q = mL, where L is the specific latent heat (fusion or vaporisation).
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Question
What is the difference between latent heat of fusion and vaporisation?
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Answer
Fusion: energy to melt 1 kg of solid to liquid at constant temperature. Vaporisation: energy to boil 1 kg of liquid to gas at constant temperature. Vaporisation is much larger.
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Question
State Boyle's Law.
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Answer
At constant temperature, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume: pV = constant (or p₁V₁ = p₂V₂).
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Question
State Charles's Law.
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Answer
At constant pressure, the volume of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature: V/T = constant (or V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂).
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Question
State the Pressure Law (Gay-Lussac's Law).
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Answer
At constant volume, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature: p/T = constant (or p₁/T₁ = p₂/T₂).
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Question
What is the ideal gas equation?
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Answer
pV = nRT, where p = pressure (Pa), V = volume (m³), n = number of moles, R = 8.31 J/mol/K, T = temperature (K).
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Question
What is absolute zero?
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Answer
0 K (−273.15°C) — the theoretical minimum temperature at which particles have minimum internal energy and gas pressure would be zero.
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Question
How do you convert Celsius to Kelvin?
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Answer
T(K) = T(°C) + 273. All gas law calculations must use absolute temperature in Kelvin.
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