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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
Introductory Physics, High School
Learning Standards for a Full First-Year Course
I. CONTENT STANDARDS
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction, and
radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
3.1 Explain how heat energy is transferred by convection, conduction, and radiation.
3.2 Explain how heat energy will move from a higher temperature to a lower temperature until
equilibrium is reached.
3.3 Describe the relationship between average molecular kinetic energy and temperature. Recognize
that energy is absorbed when a substance changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas, and that
energy is released when a substance changes from a gas to a liquid to a solid. Explain the
relationships among evaporation, condensation, cooling, and warming.
3.4 Explain the relationships among temperature changes in a substance, the amount of heat
transferred, the amount (mass) of the substance, and the specific heat of the substance.
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
1.) A student in a laboratory transfers a beaker 2.) A container is filled with 100 mL of water
containing a hot solution from the lab table to a and placed in a freezer. The water in the
cool water bath. Which of the following parts
container freezes at 0°C. A second container
of the system experiences an increase in heat
filled with 90 mL of water is placed in a
energy?
second freezer. At what temperature does this
A. beaker
second container of water freeze?
B. lab table
A. 10°C
C. solution
B. 1°C
D. water bath
C. 0°C
D. 10°C
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
D. Heat is always transferred
from the warmer object to the
cooler object. Heat is
transferred from the warm
beaker to the cool water bath.
C. The quantity of water
doesn’t change the freezing
temperature. Freezing point is
a physical characteristic of a
substance. The freezing point
of water is 0°C.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction, and radiation
between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
3.) On a hot day, Jenny walked home from the
grocery store with a bag of chocolate chips.
When she arrived home the chocolate chips
had melted in the bag. Why did the chocolate
chips melt?
A. Heat transferred from the chocolate chips to
the bag.
B. Heat evaporated from the bag to the
chocolate chips.
C. Heat transferred from the environment to
the chocolate chips.
D. Heat condensed from her hand to the
Chocolate chips
My Answer and Explanation:
4.) A flowing stream contains water at 18ºC.
Cans of soft drinks at 28ºC are lowered into the
stream. Which of the following will most
likely occur?
A. The soft drink cans will absorb cold energy
from the stream’s water.
B. The cans will cool until their temperature is
the same as the stream’s.
C. The temperature of the soft drinks will not
change since the cans are sealed.
D. The temperature of the cans will decrease to
freezing as long as the stream is flowing.
C. If the chocolate chips
melted, heat must have been
transferred to the chips since
melting requires heat to be
transferred to the substance.
B. Two objects in thermal
contact will experience heat
transfer until thermal
equilibrium is achieved. There
is much more water than soda so
the soda will experience a much
larger temperature change,
effectively cooling down until
it has the same temperature as
the water. (There is an energy
transfer from the soda to the
water for this to occur
therefore some water molecules
do gain energy.)
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction, and radiation
between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
5.) If 1 kg of the compound toluene melts at –
95°C, then 500 g of toluene will
A. melt at –47.5°C.
B. melt at –95°C.
C. boil at 95°C.
D. boil at 47.5°C.
6.) Which of the following is an example of
heat transfer by conduction?
A. a whole metal spoon getting hot when one
end is in hot soup
B. the inside of a car in the sun getting very hot
C. a tar road getting hotter in the sun than a
concrete sidewalk
D. a fireplace fire heating a room on a cold day
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
B. The quantity of toluene
doesn’t change the melting
temperature. Melting point is a
physical characteristic of a
substance. The melting point of
toluene is -95°C.
A. Heat is transferred to the
spoon from the soup and then
within the spoon via
conduction. Conduction is the
mode of heat transfer within a
solid.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
7.) Four containers of water with different
8.) In Colonial America, people used ice to
temperatures are placed on a table as shown
help keep foods fresh. They cut the ice from
below. The temperature of the room is 25°C.
lakes and ponds during the winter and stored
the ice in icehouses. They sometimes used hay
as an insulator to prevent the ice from melting.
If you wanted to build an icehouse today,
which of the following would be the best
material to use as an insulator?
A. dried leaves
B. foam blocks
C. plastic wrap
After four hours, which beaker of water will
have exchanged the most heat energy with the D. rock salt
environment?
A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
A. Container W starts out with
the temperature that is most
different from the temperature
of the room. Therefore, it must
exchange the most heat with the
environment in order to achieve
thermal equilibrium with the
room. A transfer of heat
(directly proportional to the
change in temperature) is
necessary for a change in
temperature to occur.
B. Foam is an excellent
insulator. It slows the rate of
heat transfer due to the air
trapped in the foam. Air is an
extremely poor conductor of
heat.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
9.) If enough heat is taken away from a
10.) In a copper wire, a temperature increase is
container of water, what will happen to the
the result of which of the following?
water?
A. an increase in the size of the copper
A. It will begin to boil.
particles
B. It will become a solid.
B. a decrease in the mass of the copper
C. It will turn into a gas.
particles
D. It will increase in weight.
C. an increase in the motion of the copper
particles
D. a decrease in the distance between the
copper particles
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
B. When heat is taken away from
a liquid (water in this case),
the liquid will cool until it
reaches its freezing point. If
one continues to take heat away
from the liquid, the substance
will freeze and become a solid.
C. An increase in molecular
motion causes an increase in
temperature since temperature
is a measure of the average
molecular motion.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
11.) The masses and specific heats of some
12.) The illustration below shows a student
samples of liquids are shown in the table
bending a piece of wire back and forth at a
below.
single point X. The wire’s temperature rises
Specific
Heat
Capacity
noticeably at point X.
Samples
Mass
(J/kg*K)
(kg)
Water
.750
4200
Glycerin
.750
2400
Methanol
.750
2500
Cooking oil .750
2100
The temperature of which sample will rise
most when 1000 J of heat is added?
A. water
B. glycerin
C. methanol
D. cooking oil
My Answer and Explanation:
D. The cooking oil has the
lowest specific heat capacity
which means that it will
experience the largest
temperature change for a given
transfer of heat. Low SHC means
that it is easy to change the
substance’s temperature.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Which of the following best describes the
source of the temperature increase?
A. Some of the wire’s mass is transformed into
heat energy as the wire is bent.
B. Some of the kinetic energy is transformed
into heat as the wire is bent.
C. The bending transfers potential energy to
the wire, heating it.
D. The bending causes a current that heats the
wire.
My Answer and Explanation:
B. As the wire is bent, the
molecules in the wire are
moving more. When the molecules
move more, the temperature
rises since temperature is a
measure of the motion of
molecules. Therefore, the
kinetic energy of motion is
being transformed into heat.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
14.) The diagram below represents four empty
13.) A window washer noticed that, from
the same distance and with no breeze, the copper containers at room temperature.
smell of ammonia glass cleaner reached
him faster on a hot day (30°C) than on a
cold day (5°C).
Which of the following explains this
observation?
A. Molecules expand at higher
An equal amount of water at 90°C is added to
temperatures.
each copper container. Assume there is no loss
B. Molecules move more rapidly at higher
of heat to the environment. Which container
temperatures.
will have had the greatest change in
C. The convection currents carry
temperature when the water and the container
molecules at higher temperatures.
reach equilibrium?
D. The chemical reaction of molecules
A. 1
increases at higher temperatures.
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
B. Warmer molecules are moving
faster on average, so the
warmer air will disperse the
ammonia molecules more quickly.
A. Container #1 is the smallest
so it will experience a larger
temperature change and the
container will end up with a
temperature closer to 90°C.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
15.) Which of the following changes occurs 16.) A recycling plant manager needs to melt
as a solid is heated?
1500 kg of scrap copper to sell to a wire
A. The kinetic energy of the solid decreases. manufacturer. The copper is at 15°C and its
B. The average density of the solid
melting point is 1083°C. The copper has a
increases.
specific heat of 385 J/kg • K.
C. The specific heat capacity of the solid
How much heat is required to raise the
decreases.
temperature of the copper to its melting point?
D. The average molecular speed in the solid A. 6.2 • 108 J
increases.
B. 6.3 • 108 J
C. 7.7 • 108 J
D. 7.9 • 108 J
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
D. As a substance is heated,
the molecules experience an
increase in speed. All of the
other statements are false.
A.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:

Q  mcT
Q  (1500kg ) * (385J /kg  K ) * (1083Ê C 15ÊÊ C )
Q  6.2X 10 8J
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
17.) The instructions below outline the procedure for a demonstration.
Materials:
four 100 g metal blocks, each of a different metal.
four polystyrene foam cups, each containing 150 g of 10°C water
Procedure:
1. Place the four cups of water next to each other on the lab bench.
2. Heat each block to a temperature of 60°C.
3. Place each heated block in a separate cup of 10°C water.
4. Measure the temperature change in each cup of water after 100 s.
At the end of the demonstration, which block raised the temperature of the 10°C water the greatest
amount?
A. the block with the greatest density
B. the block with the lowest surface area
C. the block with the greatest specific heat
D. the block with the lowest thermal conductivity
My Answer and Explanation:
C. It takes a lot of heat to change the temperature of an object
with a high SHC. Therefore, lots of heat would transfer from the
block to the water. If the most heat transfers to the water, then
the water experiences the largest change in temperature.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
18.) The graph below represents changes in
19.) Two boxes, A and B, both contain the
molecular motion in a solid plastic cylinder
same number of nitrogen gas molecules.
over time
The gas molecules in box A have twice the
average speed of the molecules in box B.
Which of the following best describes the
nitrogen gas in box A?
A. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater
mass than the nitrogen gas in box B.
B. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater
density than the nitrogen gas in box B.
C. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater
temperature than the nitrogen gas in box B.
D. The nitrogen gas in box A has a greater
specific gravity than the nitrogen gas in box B.
These changes in the molecules of the plastic
cylinder must be accompanied by which of the
following?
A. an increase in mass
B. a decrease in volume
C. an increase in temperature
D. a decrease in heat capacity
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
C. An increase in temperature
is caused by an increase in
average KE of molecules. This
is the definition of
temperature.
C. A substance with molecules
with greater average speed has
a higher temperature. This is
the definition of temperature.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
20.) A 10 g sample of aluminum and a 10 g
21.) A party shop delivers helium-filled
sample of iron were each heated by 100 joules balloons to homes and businesses. The owners
of energy. The temperature of the aluminum
realize from experience that on hot summer
sample rose 11˚C, while the temperature of the days they should inflate the balloons only
iron sample increased 23˚C.
three-quarters full. On cold winter days they
Which statement best accounts for these
can fully inflate the balloons. Which of the
results?
following is the best hypothesis to explain this
A. Iron is twice as dense as aluminum.
observation?
B. Atoms of aluminum are smaller than atoms A. The helium gas is more active in the winter
of iron.
season.
C. Using equal masses results in similar heat
B. Air outside the balloons leaks into the
capacities.
balloons.
D. The specific heat of iron is less than that of C. As the temperature increases, the helium in
aluminum.
the balloons expands.
D. Outdoor air pressure in the summer is less
than indoor air pressure
My Answer and Explanation:
My Answer and Explanation:
D. The relationship used to
understand this question is
Q=mcT.
In this case Q and m are both
the same for the two metals. If
the relationship is rearranged, you see that
c=Q/(mT). Thus c and T are
inversely related. A smaller
specific heat capacity results
in a larger change in
temperature.
C. The helium particles move
much faster when they are
warmer. When they move faster
they also spread out more and
thus the helium in the balloon
expands.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
22.) The illustration below represents
My Answer and Explanation:
an experiment in which a hot object is
added to a container of water at room
B. Both the hot object and the water
temperature.
experience a change in temperature
until they reach the same
temperature, thermal equilibrium.
Graph B is the only one that shows
them reaching a common (and final)
temperature.
The water is continuously stirred while
the hot object is immersed in it. Which
of the following graphs best shows the
temperature changes that follow?
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
3. Heat and Heat Transfer
Central Concept: Heat is energy that is transferred by the processes of convection, conduction,
and radiation between objects or regions that are at different temperatures.
23.) Which of the following figures correctly
My Answer and Explanation:
shows the conduction of heat within the system
of metal blocks?
A. Heat always flows from the
warmer object to the cooler
object. In this case heat flows
from the 5°C block to the
-20°C block and heat flows from
the 100°C block to the 5°C.
Correct Answer and Explanation:
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
Practice: Open-response question #1
BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations)
If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.
A cook notices a teakettle full of water on a stove. There is a cold window close to the spout of
the kettle. The water begins to boil and water droplets begin to form on the window.
a. Describe in detail what is happening to the water inside the kettle.
b. Why do the water droplets form on the window? Be sure to explain in detail.
a.)
The water inside the kettle is boiling. Heat is
transferred from the stove to the teakettle and then heat
is transferred from the kettle to the water. The
temperature of the water increases until it reaches its
boiling point, 100°C. At 100°C the water begins to boil
(vaporize). Water molecules that have enough energy
change from the liquid phase to the gas phase. While
boiling, the water stays constant at 100°C. The molecules
are forming bubbles of water vapor beneath the surface of
the water. The bubbles are buoyed up, rise up, and then
the water vapor escapes.
b.) The water vapor escapes the tea kettle and move through
the air. The water vapor molecules strike the cold window
and immediately transfer heat to the window. As the
molecules give heat energy to the window, they lose
enough heat to change back into liquid water and condense
into liquid water droplets on the window.
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
Practice: Open-response Question #2
BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations)
If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.
1. The table below shows initial data from a laboratory demonstration.
In the demonstration, a heated 0.06 kg copper pipe was dropped into a beaker of water. Students
in the class were asked to predict the final temperature of the beaker of water when it reached
equilibrium with the copper pipe.
a. If this demonstration took place in a closed insulated beaker, instead of in an open
beaker, what would be the relationship between the heat lost by the copper and the heat
gained by the water and glass?
b. Which material in the table above requires the most heat for a given change in
temperature?
c. The students found that the measured temperature was lower than they predicted. How
would the students best explain this difference from the predicted temperature?
d. Assume a heated 0.12 kg copper pipe was used instead of the given pipe. How would this
change affect the final temperatures of the water and of the glass beaker?
a.)
If the demonstration took place in a closed
insulated beaker, the heat lost by the copper would
be exactly equal to the heat gained by the water and
the glass. In the open beaker, some heat could also
be lost to the air and escape.
b.) Water requires the most heat for a given change in
temperature because it has the largest specific heat
capacity. This is the definition of specific heat
capacity.
c.) The measured temperature is lower than they
predicted because the demonstration is not taking
place in a closed insulated beaker. Some heat is
lost to the environment rather than being
transferred to the water.
d.) If .12kg of copper pipe were used, the final
temperature would be greater. There would be more
available heat energy for transfer if the pipe were
twice as massive. This increased transfer of heat
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
energy would increase the final temperature of the
water.
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
Practice: Open-response Question #3
BE SURE TO ANSWER AND LABEL ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION.
Show all your work (diagrams, tables, or computations)
If you do the work in your head, explain in writing how you did the work.
The illustration below shows a container of water on an electric hot plate. Point A is in the water
close to the hot plate, and point B is in the water near the top of the container.
The water in the container is at room temperature before the hot plate is turned on.
a. Describe the differences in the average motion of the water molecules at point A and at
point B shortly after the hot plate is turned on.
b. The water is heated until a thermometer placed in the center of the container reaches
100°C. Compare the average motion of the water molecules at points A and B at this
temperature and explain your answer.
c. The hot plate is then turned off. Describe the average motion of the molecules at points A
and B after several hours.
a.)
Shortly after the hot plate is turned on, the
average motion of the water molecules at point A is
much faster than the average motion of the water
molecules at point B. Heat is being transferred by
conduction from the hot plate to the container and
from the container to the water. The water molecules
closest to the hot plate will be affected first. And
as heat energy is transferred, molecules move faster
on average.
b.)
The average motion of the water molecules at
points A and B would now be the same. If the
temperature is 100°C, and there is still water in the
container, then all of the water is 100°C. The water
stays at 100°C while the water boils and until all of
the water becomes water vapor.
c.)
After several hours the water molecules will have
cooled down to room temperature. At this time, all of
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NNHS Introductory Physics: MCAS Review
Packet #3
the molecules will on average have the same motion
since they will have the same temperature.