6 Fig. 6.1 shows a flask containing gas being heated in a water-bath. The water-bath is made of copper. A U-tube containing water is connected to the flask. tripod water flask U-tube water thermometer water-bath made of copper Bunsen burner Fig. 6.1 (a) As the water-bath is heated, the reading on the thermometer increases. Name the processes by which thermal energy is transferred: through the copper … through the water. … [2] (b) The water in the U-tube is at the same level on each side when the water-bath is at 20 °C. As the temperature in the water-bath increases, the water levels in the U-tube change. (i) Predict how the water levels in the U-tube look when the temperature has increased. Draw your prediction on Fig. 6.2. U-tube Fig. 6.2 [1] (ii) Explain your prediction in terms of the motion and separation of the gas molecules inside the flask. … … … … [2] (c) After a time the thermometer reads 100 °C. State what happens to the water in the water-bath at this temperature. … [1] (d) The flame from the Bunsen burner is visible. (i) Fig. 6.3 shows an incomplete electromagnetic spectrum. On Fig. 6.3 write visible light in its correct position on the electromagnetic spectrum. gamma radiation ultraviolet microwaves Fig. 6.3 [1] (ii) The Bunsen burner also produces sound. Fig. 6.4 shows a diagram of the sound wave emitted by the Bunsen burner. Fig. 6.4 Show clearly on Fig. 6.4 the wavelength of the sound wave. Label it W. [1] [Total: 8]

6(a) conduction ; convection ; 2 6(b)(i) down in left side of U-tube / up in right side of U-tube ; 1 6(b)(ii) molecules move faster (as temperature increases) ; distance between molecules increases / volume increases ; 2 6(c) (it) boils ; 1 6(d)(i) visible light in centre box (right of ultraviolet) ; 1 6(d)(ii) correct wavelength indicated on diagram ; 1 To earn marks, you must correctly identify 'conduction' for thermal energy transfer through copper and 'convection' for transfer through water. For the U-tube, you need to draw the water level lower on the left and higher on the right. Your explanation must state that gas molecules move faster and that the distance between molecules increases (or volume increases) due to the temperature rise. For the boiling point, you must state that the water 'boils'. For the electromagnetic spectrum, you need to place 'visible light' in the correct position and indicate the correct wavelength on the diagram.

6 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows a thermometer in a solution of salt in water. Fig. 6.2 shows the thermometer reading as the salt solution freezes. Fig. 6.3 shows the thermometer reading as the same salt solution boils. 10 0 –10 100 90 120 110 80 freezing boiling solution of salt in water thermometer Fig. 6.1 Fig. 6.2 Fig. 6.3 (i) State the temperature at which pure water melts. … °C [1] (ii) State the temperature at which pure water boils. … °C [1] (iii) Use the information in Fig. 6.2 and Fig. 6.3 to state how the addition of salt to water changes the melting point and boiling point of water. melting point … boiling point … [1] (b) (i) The salt solution in the beaker has a volume of 0.00025 m3 and a mass of 0.28 kg. Calculate the density of the salt solution. State the units of your answer. density = … units … [3] (ii) A student carefully adds some pure water at 20 °C to the beaker containing salt solution. Suggest why the pure water floats on top of the salt solution before mixing. … … [1] [Total: 7]

6(a)(i) 0 (°C) ; 1 6(a)(ii) 100 (°C) ; 1 6(a)(iii) melting point: (–2°C means salt) lowers melting point (of water) AND boiling point: (102°C means salt) raises boiling point (of water) ; 1 6(b)(i) density = m/V = 0.28 / 0.00025 ; (density =) 1120 OR 1100 ; (units) kg / m3 ; 3 6(b)(ii) (pure water / it is) less dense / has lower density (than salt solution) ; 1

6 (a) Table 6.1 shows the melting points and boiling points of six substances. Table 6.1 substance melting point / °C boiling point / °C ammonia –78 –33 benzene 6 80 bromine –7 59 lactic acid 17 122 mercury –39 357 sulfur 115 445 (i) Identify two substances that are liquid at 65 °C. … and … [1] (ii) Identify two substances whose molecules are far apart at 60 °C. … and … [1] (b) A student has a liquid-in-glass thermometer without a scale. The student wants to mark a scale on the thermometer. The student puts the thermometer into melting ice, waits for the level of the liquid in the thermometer to stop changing, and marks this liquid level as 0 °C. (i) Suggest what the student does in order to decide where to put a mark for 100 °C. … … [1] (ii) Measuring temperature uses a property of the liquid in the thermometer that changes with temperature. State the property that is used. … [1] (c) Fig. 6.1 shows the student using a mirror to observe a digital thermometer. mirror eye digital thermometer Fig. 6.1 (i) On Fig. 6.1 draw a ray to show how the student is able to use the mirror to read the scale on the thermometer. Include in your drawing: • the normal • the angles of incidence (i) and reflection (r). [3] (ii) Fig. 6.2 shows the image seen by the student in the mirror. Fig. 6.2 Describe the characteristic of an image in a plane mirror, as shown in Fig. 6.2. … [1] [Total: 8]

6(a)(i) any two for one mark: benzene / lactic acid / mercury ; 1 6(a)(ii) ammonia AND bromine ; 1 6(b)(i) hold bulb in boiling water / hold bulb in steam (above boiling water) ; 1 6(b)(ii) (thermal) expansion / increase in volume ; 1 6(c)(i) ray from thermometer to mirror to eye, with at least one arrowhead ; normal drawn at mirror with equal angles (judged by eye) of incidence and reflection ; i and r correctly marked ; 3 6(c)(ii) laterally inverted OWTTE ; 1

6 Fig. 6.1 shows a gas flame being used to heat a metal kettle of water until the water boils. water inside kettle gas flame metal base of kettle Fig. 6.1 (a) (i) State the boiling point of water in degrees Celsius. … °C [1] (ii) Identify the main method of thermal energy transfer: • through the metal base of the kettle … • through the water in the kettle … . [2] (b) Natural gas is a non-renewable source of energy. State two renewable sources of energy. 1 … 2 … [2] (c) Fig. 6.2 shows a student standing in front of a plane mirror. The student is pouring water from the kettle into a cup. There is an image of the student in the plane mirror. plane mirror Fig. 6.2 The image of the student in the mirror is laterally inverted. This lateral inversion is a characteristic of the image. (i) Describe how Fig. 6.2 shows that the image of the student is laterally inverted. … … … [2] (ii) State one other characteristic of the image in the mirror. … [1] [Total: 8]

6(a)(i) 100 (°C) ; 1 6(a)(ii) conduction ; convection ; 2 6(b) any two from: solar ; wind ; hydroelectric ; tidal ; wave ; geothermal ; 2 6(c)(i) the student is holding the kettle in her right hand / AW ; mirror image is holding the kettle in her left hand / AW ; 2 6(c)(ii) any one from: upright ; virtual ; same size (as object) ; distance of image from mirror equal to distance of object from mirror ; 1

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Thermal physics past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — Thermal physics with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

258 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Thermal physics in IGCSE Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Thermal physics accounted for 290 questions worth 1,257 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	31	133
2021	53	249
2022	51	237
2023	46	210
2024	56	245
2025	53	183

Most-tested subtopics

P2.2 Thermal properties and temperature704 marks
P2.3 Transfer of thermal energy659 marks
P2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter314 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 80 qs
Paper 2 · 92 qs
Paper 3 · 36 qs
Paper 4 · 41 qs
Paper 5 · 16 qs
Paper 6 · 25 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q6 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q6 · 7 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q6 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q6 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q14 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q14
Answer: B
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