Particle Model | Edexcel GCSE Physics, Higher tier (1PH0)
Particle Model
- 125 questions
- 10 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Particle Model is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2.
It covers kinetic theory and differences in density, calculating density, and investigating it, changes of state and internal energy, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat and thermal insulation, investigating the specific heat capacity of water, gas pressure and the motion of particles, absolute zero and the kelvin scale, compressing gases, and the force a gas exerts and pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas.
Sample questions from Particle Model
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Kinetic theory and differences in density
Explain why a solid keeps a fixed shape while a liquid takes the shape of its container.
Show the answer
Solid particles are held in fixed positions by strong forces, while liquid particles are free to move past each other. -
Calculating density, and investigating it
Calculate the mass of 0.25 m³ of water, which has a density of 1000 kg/m³.
Show the answer
Mass = 1000 × 0.25 = 250 kg. -
Changes of state and internal energy
State what happens to the total mass of a substance when it melts.
Show the answer
It stays the same, because mass is conserved during a change of state. -
Specific heat capacity
Give the main difference between specific heat capacity and specific latent heat.
Show the answer
Specific heat capacity concerns a temperature change with no change of state, while specific latent heat concerns a change of state at constant temperature. -
Specific latent heat and thermal insulation
A substance has a specific latent heat of 2.0 × 10⁵ J/kg. Calculate the mass changed in state by 5.0 × 10⁴ J.
Show the answer
Mass = 5.0 × 10⁴ ÷ (2.0 × 10⁵) = 0.25 kg. -
Investigating the specific heat capacity of water
Explain why the water should be stirred while it is heated during a determination of the specific heat capacity of water.
Show the answer
Stirring spreads the energy evenly, so the thermometer reads the true temperature of all the water. -
Gas pressure and the motion of particles
Explain why a gas exerts pressure on every wall of its container.
Show the answer
Its particles move in random directions, so collisions happen on all of the surfaces. -
Absolute zero and the kelvin scale
State the pressure a fixed mass of gas would exert at absolute zero.
Show the answer
Zero, because the particles would no longer collide with the container walls.
The 10 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Kinetic theory and differences in density | The arrangement and movement of particles in solids, liquids and gases, fixed shapes, compressing and filling containers, and differences in density between states, including compressed and heated gases and ice floating on water. | 11 |
| Calculating density, and investigating it | The density equation and kg/m³, calculations of density, mass and volume, measuring regular and irregular solids and liquids, sources of error, and density as a property of the material. | 14 |
| Changes of state and internal energy | Freezing, condensing, sublimation, evaporating and boiling, mass conserved in changes of state as physical changes, heating raising the kinetic store of particles or changing state, and why temperature stays constant while a substance melts or boils. | 14 |
| Specific heat capacity | Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat, their units and the difference between them, change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × change in temperature, and calculating energy, specific heat capacity, temperature rise and mass. | 13 |
| Specific latent heat and thermal insulation | The energy for a change of state from mass and specific latent heat, calculations for melting and boiling, and how trapped air, double glazing, loft insulation, foam and shiny surfaces reduce energy transfer. | 12 |
| Investigating the specific heat capacity of water | Finding the specific heat capacity of water with an immersion heater and joulemeter, stirring, why results come out high and how lagging helps, the flat temperature–time graph for melting ice, and safety with heaters and hot water. | 11 |
| Gas pressure and the motion of particles | How particle collisions with the walls produce a steady pressure on every surface, why more particles or heating raise the pressure, a can in sunlight, and temperature as average kinetic energy. | 11 |
| Absolute zero and the kelvin scale | Absolute zero at −273 °C and 0 K, why particles stop and no lower temperature or gas pressure is possible, and converting between degrees Celsius and kelvin, including the size of a temperature change. | 11 |
| Compressing gases, and the force a gas exerts | Why gases compress and expand as pressure changes, syringes and balloons carried up a mountain, why liquids cannot be compressed, and gas pressure pushing at right angles to every surface, which gives an inflated balloon its rounded shape. | 10 |
| Pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas | Why compressing a gas at constant temperature raises its pressure, the pressure times volume equation with calculations, and why work done on a gas warms it. | 18 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel GCSE Physics, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,063 questions with their answers.