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Summary AQA AS/A Level Physics A* Revision Notes: Thermal physics

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Achieve an A* in your A Level Physics exams with our expertly written notes on 'Thermal Physics'. Created by a student who scored an A*, these notes are straightforward and easy to understand. Explore the principles of thermal energy, including heat transfer, specific heat capacity, and the laws of thermodynamics. Understand how temperature affects materials and the behavior of gases. With clear explanations, detailed diagrams, and practical examples, these notes make complex ideas simple and studying effective. Perfect for any student aiming for top marks!

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3.6.2. Thermal physics

Thermal energy transfer

Internal energy def.?
- sum of the randomly distributed kinetic energies and potential energies of the particles in a
body
Ways to inc. the internal energy of a system?
1) transfer energy to it by heating
2) work is done on it
First law of thermodynamics?
- energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one store/form to another
Change of temp. equation?

-
- Q = heat energy
- c = specific heat capacity
What does a high specific heat capacity mean?
- substance heats up and cools down slowly
← bcs it takes much more heat energy to change its temp.
What does a low specific heat capacity mean?
- substance heats up and cools down quickly
← bcs it takes much less heat energy to change its temp.
Energy changes during heating/cooling a substance?
- KE changes (as the temp. is the average KE of a system)
- potential energy stays the same
⇒ since KE changes, internal energy changes
Change of state equation?

-
- Q = heat energy
- l = specific latent heat
Specific latent heat def.?


AND


MUST SAY: “with no change in temp.”
Diff. between latent heat of vaporisation and fusion?
- vaporisation - boiling, condensing ← between liquid and gas state
- fusion - melting, freezing ← between solid and liquid state
Energy changes during changing the state of a substance?
- KE stays the same
- potential energy changes
⇒ since potential energy changes, internal energy changes
Why do we have a specific latent heat of fusion and then a separate for evaporation
for a substance e.g. water?
- the specific latent heat of fusion (transitioning between solid and liquid) has a WAY lower

,value than the specific latent heat of evaporation (transitioning between liquid and gas)
→ bcs:

, Sublimation def.?
- solids vaporise to gas
- when heated

Practical: Find specific heat capacity of a material using an inversion tube

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