Physics 1 - Chapter 13 - Conceptual Questions

On which temperature scale is 0 degrees the freezing point of water? A) Celsius B) Caloric C) Kelvin D) Fahrenheit E) none of the above

A) Celsius

Objects that are good radiators generally A) absorb radiation relatively well. B) reflect radiation relatively well. C) both D) neither

A) absorb radiation relatively well.

If you were caught in freezing weather with only a candle for warmth, you would be warmer in A) an igloo. B) a tent. C) a wooden house.

A) an igloo.

Substances are composed of tiny particles. Temperature is related mostly to the particles' A) average translational kinetic energy. B) total kinetic energy. C) average thermal energy. D) movement of energy from particle to particle. E) none of the above

A) average translational kinetic energy.

The specific heat capacity of aluminum is more than twice that of copper. Place equal masses of aluminum and copper wire in a flame and the wire to heat up quickest will be A) copper. B) aluminum. C) both the same

A) copper.

Consider a sample of water at 20°C. If the temperature is slightly increased, the water A) expands. B) contracts. C) remains the same.

A) expands.

If the temperature of a sample of 0°C water slightly increases, the sample of water A) expands. B) contracts. C) neither

A) expands.

The usefulness of a bimetallic strip is due to differences in A) expansions of metals. B) conductivities of metals. C) heat capacities of metals.

A) expansions of metals.

When you touch a piece of ice with your finger, energy flows A) from your finger to the ice. B) from the ice to your finger. C) both ways

A) from your finger to the ice.

If the same quantity of heat is added to both a 2-liter and a 4-liter container of water, the temperature change for water in the 4-liter container will be A) half that of the 2-liter container. B) more than half but less than twice. C) twice that of the 2-liter container. D) no change.

A) half that of the 2-liter container.

The higher the temperature of an object, the A) higher frequency it radiates. B) lower frequency it radiates. C) none of the above

A) higher frequency it radiates.

When a volume of air is compressed, its temperature A) increases. B) decreases. c) neither

A) increases.

The greatest expansion of water occurs when A) it turns to ice. B) at 4°C it gains temperature. C) at 4°C it loses temperature. D) none of the above

A) it turns to ice.

Hot sand cools off faster at night than plants and vegetation, which indicates that the specific heat capacity for sand is A) less than that for plants. B) more than that for plants. C) likely the same as that for plants. D) not enough information

A) less than that for plants.

The fact that desert sand is very hot in the day and very cold at night is evidence that sand has a A) low specific heat capacity. B) high specific heat capacity. C) none of the above

A) low specific heat capacity.

Whether one object is warmer than another object has most to do with A) molecular kinetic energy B) molecular potential energy C) heat flow. D) masses of internal particles.

A) molecular kinetic energy

If the specific heat capacity of water were lower than it is, ponds in the cold of winter would be A) more likely to freeze. B) less likely to freeze. C) neither more nor less likely to freeze.

A) more likely to freeze.

The overflow spillage of gasoline from a car's full tank on a hot day is evidence that gasoline expands A) more than the tank metal. B) about the same as the tank metal. C) less than the tank metal. D) negligible.

A) more than the tank metal.

A good heat conductor is a A) poor insulator. B) good insulator. C) neither

A) poor insulator.

The higher the frequency of a wave, the A) shorter the wavelength. B) longer the wavelength. C) neither

A) shorter the wavelength.

A good insulator A) slows heat transfer. B) prevents heat transfer. C) quickens heat transfer.

A) slows heat transfer.

Ice tends to form at the A) surface of bodies of water. B) layer of water slightly below the surface. C) bottom of bodies of water.

A) surface of bodies of water.

The fact that a thermometer "takes its own temperature" illustrates A) thermal equilibrium. B) energy conservation. C) the difference between heat and thermal energy. D) molecules are constantly moving.

A) thermal equilibrium.

The motion of molecules that most affects temperature is A) translational motion. B) rotational motion. C) oscillatory motion. D) simple harmonic motion.

A) translational motion.

The motion of particles that contribute to temperature are A) translational. B) rotational. C) circular. D) orbital.

A) translational.

To say that something is twice as hot as another suggests the hotter thing has A) twice the thermal energy. B) twice the absolute temperature. C) both D) none of the above

A) twice the thermal energy.

The filling of a hot apple pie is hotter than the crust due to A) water in the filling that better retains thermal energy. B) uneven temperatures. C) high conductivity of apples.

A) water in the filling that better retains thermal energy.

A metal ring with a gap in it is shaped like the letter C. When heated, the gap becomes A) wider. B) narrower. C) remains the same size.

A) wider.

The lowest temperature possible in nature is A) 0°C. B) -273°C. C) 4 K.

B) -273°C.

Before ice can form on a lake, all the water in the lake must be cooled to A) 0°C. B) 4°C. C) a value slightly below 0°C.

B) 4°C.

The temperature at the bottom of Lake Tahoe, high in the Sierra Mountains in California, at this moment is A) below 4°C. B) 4°C. C) above 4°C. D) uncertain.

B) 4°C.

A nutritionist in the United States measures the food energy in units of A) calories. B) Calories. C) joules. D) none of the above

B) Calories.

A star that is twice as hot as another has twice the A) Celsius temperature. B) Fahrenheit temperature. C) kelvin temperature. D) any of the above E) none of the above

B) Fahrenheit temperature.

A pre-electronic thermostat employs a coiled A) wire of low conductivity. B) bimetallic strip. C) tube of mercury.

B) bimetallic strip.

Coastal winds shift from night to day due to A) conduction. B) convection. C) radiation. D) all about equally.

B) convection.

Blow on your hand with your open mouth and you feel the warmth of your breath. Pucker your lips so your breath expands as you blow and your breath is A) still warm. B) cooler. C) neither

B) cooler.

If a volume of air is warmed, it expands. If a volume of air expands, it A) warms. B) cools. C) neither

B) cools.

As a hot iron ring cools, the diameter of the hole A) increases. B) decreases. C) remains the same.

B) decreases.

If glass expanded more than mercury, then the column of mercury in a thermometer would rise when the temperature A) increases. B) decreases. C) neither

B) decreases.

If the temperature of a sample of 4°C water slightly decreases, the sample of water A) contracts. B) expands. C) neither

B) expands.

If the temperature of a sample of 4°C water slightly increases, the sample of water A) contracts. B) expands. C) neither

B) expands.

When you touch a hot penny in sunlight with your finger, energy flows A) from your finger to the penny. B) from the penny to your finger. C) both ways

B) from the penny to your finger.

A poor conductor of heat is a A) poor insulator. B) good insulator. C) neither

B) good insulator.

Heat is thermal energy that flows from A) hot to cold. B) high energy to low energy. C) high thermal pressure to low thermal pressure. D) all of the above

B) high energy to low energy.

Some molecules are able to absorb large amounts of energy in the form of internal vibrations and rotations. Materials composed of such molecules have A) low specific heat capacities. B) high specific heat capacities. C) none of the above

B) high specific heat capacities.

Compared to a giant iceberg, a hot cup of coffee has A) more thermal energy and higher temperature. B) higher temperature, but less thermal energy. C) a greater specific heat capacity and more thermal energy. D) none of the above

B) higher temperature, but less thermal energy.

Which of the following normally warms up faster when heat is applied? A) water B) iron C) glass D) wood

B) iron

Your toes feel warmer on a rug than on a tile floor because the rug A) is usually warmer than tile. B) is a better insulator than tile. C) has more thermal energy than tile. D) all of the above E) none of the above

B) is a better insulator than tile.

If a room is cold it is due to a A) presence of cold air. B) lack of adequate thermal energy. C) low air pressure.

B) lack of adequate thermal energy.

When an iron ring is heated, the hole becomes A) smaller. B) larger. C) neither

B) larger.

Microscopic slush in water tends to make the water A) more dense. B) less dense. C) slipperier. D) warmer.

B) less dense.

Metals are both good heat and electrical conductors due to A) similar thermal and electrical conductive properties. B) looseness of outer electrons in metal atoms. C) relatively high densities of metals. D) high elasticity of metals. E) ability of metals to transfer energy easily.

B) looseness of outer electrons in metal atoms.

A substance that heats up relatively quickly has a A) high specific heat capacity. B) low specific heat capacity. C) high or low specific heat capacity.

B) low specific heat capacity.

One of the main reasons people can walk barefoot on red-hot coals of wood without burning their feet has to do with A) low temperature of the coals. B) low thermal conductivity of the coals. C) mind over matter techniques.

B) low thermal conductivity of the coals.

A metal ring with a gap in it is shaped like the letter C. When the hot metal cools, the gap becomes A) wider. B) narrower. C) remains the same size.

B) narrower.

At absolute zero, a substance has A) absolutely no molecular motion. B) no more energy to give up. C) no volume. D) all of the above

B) no more energy to give up.

The higher the temperature of an object, the A) longer the wavelengths it radiates. B) shorter the wavelengths it radiates. C) none of the above

B) shorter the wavelengths it radiates.

Which will cool faster when taken from a furnace? A) iron B) silver C) the same

B) silver

San Francisco has milder winters than Washington D.C. due to water's high A) conductivity. B) specific heat capacity. C) temperature in the Pacific Ocean.

B) specific heat capacity.

Which emits the highest frequency of radiation? A) a red-hot star B) the Sun C) a blue-hot star D) all the same

B) the Sun

A piece of iron and a cup of water both have the same temperature. If they are heated so the thermal energy of each doubles, A) the water will have the higher temperature. B) the iron will have the higher temperature. C) both will have the same temperature. D) not enough information

B) the iron will have the higher temperature.

Heat is thermal energy that matter A) contains. B) transfers. C) both D) none of the above

B) transfers.

Convection currents in the air near a seashore are produced by A) shifting winds. B) unequal heating of land and water. C) varying temperatures. D) none of the above

B) unequal heating of land and water.

When ice floats in water, a small part of it extends above the surface. Interestingly, the volume of ice that extends above the surface is equal to the volume of the A) water the ice displaces. B) vast number of open spaces in the hexagonal ice crystals. C) both D) neither

B) vast number of open spaces in the hexagonal ice crystals.

During a very cold winter, water pipes sometimes burst because A) the ground contracts when colder, pulling pipes apart. B) water expands when freezing. C) water contracts when freezing. D) the thawing process releases pressure on the pipes. E) none of the above

B) water expands when freezing.

If water had a lower specific heat capacity, would ponds and lakes be more or less likely to freeze in winter?

Bodies of water would more likely freeze, because the temperature would decrease more as water loses energy, and the water would be more readily cooled to the freezing point.

Absolute zero corresponds to a temperature of A) 0 K. B) -273° C. C) both D) neither

C) both

If an object radiates more energy than it absorbs, its A) thermal energy decreases. B) temperature decreases. C) both D) neither

C) both

If an object radiates more energy than it reflects, its A) thermal energy decreases. B) temperature decreases. C) both D) neither

C) both

The density of water at 4°C will slightly decrease when it is A) cooled. B) warmed. C) both D) neither

C) both

The temperature of boiling water is A) 100°C. B) 212°F. C) both

C) both

The temperature of melting ice is A) 0°C. B) 32°F. C) both

C) both

Warm air rises because faster moving molecules tend to move to regions of less A) density. B) pressure. C) both

C) both

Water at 4°C will expand when it is slightly A) cooled. B) warmed. C) both D) neither

C) both

Hot steam that issues from a pressure cooker expands and A) increases in temperature. B) can cause severe burns. C) cools. D) all of the above E) none of the above

C) cools.

When a bimetallic bar composed of copper and iron strips is heated, the bar bends toward the iron strip because A) iron gets hotter before copper. B) copper gets hotter before iron. C) copper expands more than iron. D) iron expands more than copper. E) none of the above

C) copper expands more than iron.

The moderate temperatures of islands throughout the world has mainly to do with water's A) poor conductivity. B) vast supply of thermal energy. C) high specific heat capacity. D) high evaporation rate. E) absorption of solar energy.

C) high specific heat capacity.

Which of the following contracts most when the temperature is slightly increased? Equal volumes of A) iron. B) wood. C) ice water. D) helium. E) none of the above contract when heated

C) ice water.

The average frequency of radiant energy is directly proportional to the A) Celsius temperature of the emitter. B) Fahrenheit temperature of the emitter. C) kelvin temperature of the emitter. D) all of the above E) none of the above

C) kelvin temperature of the emitter.

Water at 4°C will sink to the bottom of a pond because A) it will not freeze there. B) it benefits fish and other life forms there. C) like a rock, it is denser than surrounding water. D) of the presence of microscopic ice crystals.

C) like a rock, it is denser than surrounding water.

The open spaces in the crystal lattice of ice contain A) vapor. B) trace amounts of water. C) nothing.

C) nothing.

Which is the smallest unit of measurement for temperature? A) one Celsius degree B) one Kelvin C) one Fahrenheit degree D) all are the same

C) one Fahrenheit degree

Heat is thermal energy that flows due to A) molecular activity. B) calorie imbalance. C) temperature differences.

C) temperature differences.

The white-hot sparks from a fireworks sparkler that strike your skin don't cause injury because A) they have a low temperature. B) the energy per molecule is very low. C) the energy per molecule is high, but the total energy transferred is small.

C) the energy per molecule is high, but the total energy transferred is small.

Heat is simply another word for A) temperature. B) thermal energy. C) thermal energy that flows from hot to cold. D) radiant energy.

C) thermal energy that flows from hot to cold.

If the same quantity of heat is added to both a 1-liter and a 2-liter container of water, the temperature change of water in the 1-liter container will be A) half. B) more than half but less than twice. C) twice. D) none.

C) twice.

Radiant energy emitted by our planet is A) terrestrial energy. B) the result of radioactivity in Earth's interior. C) electromagnetic. D) all of the above

D) all of the above

To say that water has a high specific heat capacity is to say that water A) requires a lot of energy for an increase in temperature. B) releases a lot of energy in cooling. C) absorbs a lot of energy for an increase in temperature. D) all of the above

D) all of the above

Thermal energy can be measured in A) calories. B) Calories. C) joules. D) any or all of the above for special cases

D) any or all of the above for special cases

Heat energy is measured in units of A) degrees. B) joules. C) calories. D) both joules and calories.

D) both joules and calories.

The process of convection occurs in A) solids. B) liquids. C) gases. D) fluids. E) none of the above

D) fluids.

Which of the following contracts most when the temperature is decreased? Equal volumes of A) iron. B) wood. C) water. D) helium. E) all contract the same

D) helium.

Which of the following expands most when the temperature is increased? Equal volumes of A) iron. B) wood. C) ice water. D) helium. E) all expand the same

D) helium.

Ice has a lower density than water because ice A) sinks. B) molecules are more compact in the solid state. C) molecules vibrate at lower rates than water molecules. D) is composed of open-structured crystals. E) density decreases with decreasing temperature.

D) is composed of open-structured crystals.

A substance absorbs heat energy by the process of A) conduction. B) convection. C) radiation. D) none of the above

D) none of the above

A water-filled paper cup held in a flame will not catch fire because A) the inside of the paper is wet. B) water is an excellent conductor of heat. C) paper is a good conductor of heat. D) the paper cup cannot become appreciably hotter than the water it contains.

D) the paper cup cannot become appreciably hotter than the water it contains.

Which of the following expands most when the temperature is lowered? Equal volumes of A) iron. B) wood. C) helium. D) water at 4°C. E) none expand when the temperature is lowered

D) water at 4°C.

The thermal energy in a substance is related mostly to the A) average translational kinetic energy of particles. B) total kinetic energy of particles. C) average potential energy of particles. D) movement of energy from particle to particle. E) none of the above

E) none of the above

Explain what is meant by saying a thermometer measures its own temperature.

Objects in the same locality will ultimately reach the same temperature when hot things cool and cool things warm. This is what a thermometer does. Thermometers come to thermal equilibrium with their surroundings and display this on their scale.

Write a short paragraph distinguishing between conduction and convection. Give two examples of each.

Thermal conduction occurs when molecular bumping from warm to cool areas transfers kinetic energy. Convection occurs when atoms or molecules travel in space. Whereas conduction occurs primarily in solids, convection occurs in fluids-liquids or gases. When cold water is poured into hot soup, the water soon spreads by convection to all parts of the mixture. When a spoon is placed in the hot soup, the whole spoon becomes hot by conduction