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Question
Explain in terms of particles why the temperature of water rises when it is heated below boiling point.
Solution
Heating supplies energy.
Effect on particles.
Temperature.
Answer
Heating transfers energy to the water, increasing internal energy. The particles move faster, increasing average kinetic energy, which we measure as a rise in temperature.
Question
When water boils at 100 °C, the temperature stays constant even though energy is still being added. Explain why.
Solution
Energy goes to potential.
Kinetic stays same.
Conclude.
Answer
During a state change, input energy goes to breaking inter-particle bonds (increasing potential part of internal energy). Average kinetic energy is unchanged, so temperature stays constant.
Question
How much energy is needed to heat 1.5 kg of water from 22 °C to 100 °C? (c = 4200 J/kg°C)
Solution
Δθ.
Apply formula.
Answer
491,400 J (≈ 491 kJ).
Question
A 200 g cup of tea (mostly water) cools from 80 °C to 25 °C. How much energy does it release?
Solution
Convert mass.
Δθ.
Apply formula.
Answer
46,200 J released to the surroundings (≈ 46 kJ).
Question
A 500 g metal block warms from 22 °C to 84 °C when given 15,500 J. Calculate the specific heat capacity.
Solution
Convert mass.
Δθ.
Rearrange.
Answer
c ≈ 500 J/kg°C (close to iron 450 or zinc 388 — possibly steel or zinc alloy).
Question
How much energy is needed to melt 0.25 kg of ice at 0 °C? L_f = 334,000 J/kg.
Solution
Apply E = mL_f.
Answer
83,500 J (83.5 kJ).
Question
Calculate the energy released when 50 g of steam at 100 °C condenses to water at 100 °C. L_v = 2,260,000 J/kg.
Solution
Convert mass.
Apply E = mL_v.
Answer
113,000 J released (~113 kJ). This is why steam burns are far worse than hot water burns!
Question
Calculate the total energy required to convert 100 g of ice at 0 °C to steam at 100 °C. (L_f = 334 kJ/kg; c_water = 4200 J/kg°C; L_v = 2260 kJ/kg.)
Solution
Convert mass.
Melt the ice.
Heat water 0 to 100.
Boil it.
Total.
Answer
~301 kJ. Note that boiling alone takes more than heating from 0 °C to 100 °C.
Specific heat capacity equation
When to use
Whenever the substance changes temperature without changing state. On AQA equation sheet.
Specific latent heat
When to use
Use during a state change (constant temperature). On AQA equation sheet.
The total kinetic and potential energy of all the particles in a substance.
A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.
The energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C. Units: J/kg°C.
Energy needed to change 1 kg of a substance from solid to liquid at the melting point.
Energy needed to change 1 kg of a substance from liquid to gas at the boiling point.
Mistake
Saying T rises during boiling.
Why it happens
Forgetting the flat section of the heating curve.
How to avoid it
T stays CONSTANT during melting/boiling — energy goes to breaking bonds.
Mistake
Defining internal energy as just kinetic energy.
Why it happens
Confusing with temperature.
How to avoid it
Include BOTH kinetic AND potential of particles.
Mistake
Substituting absolute T (e.g. 100 °C) instead of Δθ.
Why it happens
Confusing absolute T with change.
How to avoid it
Δθ means CHANGE — subtract the start from the end.
Mistake
Applying ΔE = mcΔθ during boiling.
Why it happens
Forgetting that during a state change, T is constant.
How to avoid it
Use E = mL for state changes (4.3.2.3), not ΔE = mcΔθ.
Mistake
Using ΔE = mcΔθ when there's no temperature change.
Why it happens
Default to most familiar equation.
How to avoid it
If T is constant (state change), use E = mL.
Mistake
Forgetting to convert kJ/kg to J/kg.
Why it happens
Data given in mixed units.
How to avoid it
Convert to J/kg before substituting if you want answer in joules.