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Physics Quiz - Energy - Kinetic Theory (Questions)

Kinetic theory explains how particles move in solids, liquids, and gases. This GCSE Physics quiz helps you link particle motion to temperature, pressure, and changes of state.

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Fascinating Fact:

When a solid melts or a liquid boils, energy is used to break or loosen particle bonds rather than to increase temperature.

In GCSE Physics, kinetic theory models matter as tiny particles in constant motion. It links temperature to average kinetic energy and helps explain pressure, density, and changes of state.

Key Terms

  • Kinetic theory: A model that explains the properties of solids, liquids, and gases by describing the motion and spacing of their particles.
  • Internal energy: The total energy stored in a substance, made up of the kinetic and potential energy of all its particles.
  • Latent heat: The energy needed to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is kinetic theory in GCSE Physics?

Kinetic theory is a particle model that explains how solids, liquids, and gases behave. It describes their properties by considering how fast particles move and how closely they are packed.

How does temperature relate to particle motion?

As temperature increases, particles gain kinetic energy and move faster. In gases this leads to more frequent and forceful collisions, which can increase pressure if the volume is fixed.

Why does a flat part appear on a heating curve?

A flat part on a heating curve shows a change of state. Energy supplied is used to overcome forces between particles rather than raising the temperature of the substance.

Try These Related Quizzes

1. What does the kinetic particle theory describe?
[ ] Small numbers of small particles in constant random motion
[ ] Large numbers of small particles in constant random motion
[ ] Large numbers of small particles in an accelerating random motion
[ ] Large numbers of large particles in constant random motion
2. What does the kinetic energy of the particles in a system depend on?
[ ] Temperature of the system
[ ] How quickly the particles are accelerating
[ ] Charge of particle
[ ] None of the above
3. It is assumed all collisions within a system are what?
[ ] Elastic
[ ] Inelastic
[ ] Particles do not collide
[ ] Only 50% of the particles in a system collide with other particles
4. Which experiment shows how kinetic theory works?
[ ] g by freefall
[ ] Brownian Motion
[ ] Pin-hole camera
[ ] Refraction of light
5. The molecules in a system are assumed to obey which laws?
[ ] The Second Law of Thermodynamics
[ ] Theory of General Relativity
[ ] Newton's Laws of Motion
[ ] The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
6. How large is the number of particles within a system in kinetic theory?
[ ] Very large
[ ] Very small
[ ] 300 particles
[ ] 500,000 particles
7. As a substance changes state from a liquid to a gas, the amount of energy the particles have …
[ ] decreases
[ ] increases
[ ] stays the same
[ ] varies
8. What forces are assumed to exist between particles in a gas?
[ ] Attractive
[ ] Repulsive
[ ] Both attractive and repulsive
[ ] No force
9. The particles in the system are considered to have what mass relative to each other?
[ ] All particles have a different mass
[ ] All particles have the same mass
[ ] 50% of particles have a mass twice as big as the other 50%
[ ] 50% of particles have a mass one third as big as the other 50%
10. The particles in a system are always in what kind of motion?
[ ] Constant and random
[ ] Static
[ ] Slow and random
[ ] Fast and follow a curved path

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Kinetic theory

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Physics Quiz - Energy - Kinetic Theory (Answers)
1. What does the kinetic particle theory describe?
[ ] Small numbers of small particles in constant random motion
[x] Large numbers of small particles in constant random motion
[ ] Large numbers of small particles in an accelerating random motion
[ ] Large numbers of large particles in constant random motion
It relates the movement of the particles to the energy in a system
2. What does the kinetic energy of the particles in a system depend on?
[x] Temperature of the system
[ ] How quickly the particles are accelerating
[ ] Charge of particle
[ ] None of the above
Particles at higher temperatures have a greater kinetic energy than when they were at a lower temperature
3. It is assumed all collisions within a system are what?
[x] Elastic
[ ] Inelastic
[ ] Particles do not collide
[ ] Only 50% of the particles in a system collide with other particles
Assuming all collisions are elastic allows us to make a good approximation of the kinetic energy of the system, as we are not concerned with the losses in kinetic energy that occur due to heat released during collisions in the real world
4. Which experiment shows how kinetic theory works?
[ ] g by freefall
[x] Brownian Motion
[ ] Pin-hole camera
[ ] Refraction of light
Brownian motion was first observed by the botanist Robert Brown who noticed the random movement of pollen grains in water but had no idea why this movement was taking place. We now can explain this as being caused by the constant random motion of water molecules colliding with the pollen grains. You may have seen it demonstrated at school using smoke
5. The molecules in a system are assumed to obey which laws?
[ ] The Second Law of Thermodynamics
[ ] Theory of General Relativity
[x] Newton's Laws of Motion
[ ] The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Newton's Laws of Motion are used to solve kinetic theory problems as they are simple to use and offer a good approximation to the solutions needed for a system
6. How large is the number of particles within a system in kinetic theory?
[x] Very large
[ ] Very small
[ ] 300 particles
[ ] 500,000 particles
The sample size needs to be large to be reliable
7. As a substance changes state from a liquid to a gas, the amount of energy the particles have …
[ ] decreases
[x] increases
[ ] stays the same
[ ] varies
During this change the temperature remains the same but a lot of heat energy needs to be added in order to make the particles move fast enough to escape from the liquid
8. What forces are assumed to exist between particles in a gas?
[ ] Attractive
[ ] Repulsive
[ ] Both attractive and repulsive
[x] No force
The energy used to change a liquid into a gas breaks any forces between particles
9. The particles in the system are considered to have what mass relative to each other?
[ ] All particles have a different mass
[x] All particles have the same mass
[ ] 50% of particles have a mass twice as big as the other 50%
[ ] 50% of particles have a mass one third as big as the other 50%
This is one of the basic assumptions of the kinetic theory
10. The particles in a system are always in what kind of motion?
[x] Constant and random
[ ] Static
[ ] Slow and random
[ ] Fast and follow a curved path
The theoretical exception is at absolute zero. This is defined as the point where the constant and random motion of all particles stops. Scientists have come close to achieveing absolute zero but have never yet succeeded in getting there. Some very odd effects appear at these very low temperatures such as superfluidity and superconductivity
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