causes the particles of a substance to move or vibrate more rapidly

the transfer of energy through a material due to collisions between moving or vibrating particles

reduces the transfer of energy by thermal conduction

substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction quickly

substances that transfer energy by thermal conduction slowly or not at all

Thermal conduction and insulation

Combined science

In the Nuclear physics unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to learn about subatomic particles, unstable nuclei, radioactive decay, ionising radiation and radioactive half-life.

In the Particle explanations of density and pressure unit, pupils learnt how the arrangement and movement of particles in solids, liquids and gases explain density, pressure, floating and convection.

Energy of moving particles

These are done to find a baseline set of results to which others can be compared.

The variable that is changed during an experiment.

The variable that is measured or observed during an experiment; it changes as a result of varying the independent variable.

These are factors that need to be kept constant in an experiment for the test to be fair.

Effective insulation

a measure of how hot a substance is; it is related to the kinetic energy of the individual particles

the change in internal energy when the temperature of 1 kg of the material changes by 1°C

the sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy of the particles something is made of

the energy an object has because of it's motion

the energy an object has because of its position and the forces acting on it

Heating different substances

The change in internal energy when the temperature of 1 kg of the material changes by 1°C.

The unit for the specific heat capacity of a material.

Calculating specific heat capacity (∆ E  = m c  ∆ θ)

An electrical heating element which can be submerged in liquid to heat it.

A meter which measures the energy transferred by an electric current.

A principle which states that the total amount of energy is the same before and after any transfer.

Measuring specific heat capacity

the change of state from a solid to a liquid that happens at a fixed temperature for pure substances

the change of state from a liquid to a gas that happens at a fixed temperature for pure substances

changing from a solid to a liquid or liquid to gas (or the reverse)

A heating curve for water

the change of state from a solid to a liquid; happens at a fixed temperature for pure substances

the change of state from a liquid to a gas; happens at a fixed temperature for pure substances

the change in energy when 1 kg of a substance changes state

the change in internal energy when the temperature of 1 kg of a substance changes by 1°C

Energy of moving particles

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These lessons will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.