Pre AP Chemistry -1.2A Thermal Energy and Heat Capacity- MCQ Exam Style Questions -New Syllabus 2025-2026
Pre AP Chemistry -1.2A Thermal Energy and Heat Capacity- MCQ Exam Style Questions – New Syllabus 2025-2026
Pre AP Chemistry -1.2A Thermal Energy and Heat Capacity- MCQ Exam Style Questions – Pre AP Chemistry – per latest Pre AP Chemistry Syllabus.
Questions
The temperature of the water at the bottom of a waterfall is greater than the temperature of the water at the top. The energy in the gravitational potential store of the water at the top is transferred to the thermal store at the bottom. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 \(J /(kg \circ C)\). What is the temperature difference for a waterfall of height 21 m?
A 0.0050 \(\circ C\)
B 0.049 \(\circ C\)
C 20 \(\circ C\)
D 200 \(\circ C\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Question
A thermometer has a low thermal capacity. Why is this an advantage?
A The thermometer does not absorb much thermal energy to raise its own temperature.
B The thermometer does not conduct much thermal energy to the surroundings.
C The thermometer does not melt when it gets hot.
D The thermometer does not radiate much thermal energy to the surroundings.
Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Thermal capacity is the amount of thermal energy that is absorbed by an object to raise its own temperature.
Questions
Extremely small pollen grains in water are viewed through a microscope. The grains are seen to move continually and randomly. What is the reason for this random movement?
A The grains are moved by randomly moving water molecules.
B The grains are moved by random convection currents in the water.
C The grains are moved by random rays of light reflecting off them.
D The grains are moved by the random motion of their own atoms.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Question
The diagram shows the apparatus needed for an experiment to determine the specific heat capacity of the material from which an object is made.
Which piece of apparatus could be omitted if the purpose of the experiment is to determine the thermal capacity of the object?
- ammeter
- balance
- stop-clock
- thermometer
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
B
Question
One end of a rod of copper is placed in hot water. Thermal energy travels along the rod to make the other end warmer.
What is the behaviour of the copper at an atomic level that accounts for most of the transfer of thermal energy from one end to the other?
A Atoms at the hot end gain kinetic energy and move towards the other end.
B Atoms at the hot end expand, colliding with other atoms and transferring energy.
C Free electrons at the hot end gain energy and move towards the other end, colliding with atoms along the rod.
D Free electrons at the hot end gain energy from the hot water and move directly to the other end.
Answer/Explanation
Ans:C
Question
The diagrams show four blocks of steel. The blocks are all drawn to the same scale.
The same quantity of thermal energy is given to each block.
Which block shows the greatest rise in temperature?
A B C D
Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question
The specific heat capacities of aluminium, iron, ethanol and water are given.
substance | specific heat capacity J / kg ºC |
aluminium | 900 |
iron | 450 |
ethanol | 2400 |
water | 4200 |
The starting temperature of each metal is 60 ºC. The starting temperature of each liquid is 10 ºC.
Which example has the highest final temperature?
metal | liquid | |
A | aluminium | ethanol |
B | iron | ethanol |
C | aluminium | water |
D | iron | water |
Answer/Explanation
Ans: AQuestion
A block of copper has a mass of 2.0 kg.
The block of copper absorbs 12 000 J thermal energy.
The specific heat capacity of copper is 385 J / (kg °C).
What is the temperature rise of the copper?
A 15.6 °C
B 31.2 °C
C 46.8 °C
D 62.4 °C
Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question
Which quantity gives the thermal capacity of a solid object?
A. the energy lost by radiation from the object in 1.0 s
B. the energy needed to melt the object
C. the energy needed to raise the temperature of the object by 1.0 °C
D. the total amount of thermal energy in the object
Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question
A metal has a specific heat capacity of 360 J / (kg °C). An object made of this metal has a mass of
2.0 kg.
What is the thermal capacity (heat capacity) of the object?
A 180 J / °C
B 180 J / kg
C 720 J / °C
D 720 J / kg
Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question
A night storage heater contains a large block of material that is heated electrically during the
night. During the day the block cools down, releasing thermal energy into the room.
Which thermal capacity and which night-time temperature increase will cause the most energy to
be stored by the block?
| thermal capacity of block | night-time temperature increase |
A | large | large |
B | large | small |
C | small | large |
D | small | small |
Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Questions
The diagram shows the equipment used in an experiment on the heating of aluminium.
The table gives the results for the experiment. 
The specific heat capacity of aluminium is \(900 J /(kg \circ C)\). What is the maximum possible temperature rise in the block?
A \(9 \circ C\)
B \(20 \circ C\)
C \(25 \circ C\)
D \(225 \circ C\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C