An electrical cartridge heater is embedded inside a small aluminum block. When the heater is switched on, the temperature of the block increases. The table below shows the temperature of the block at regular time intervals.
| Time in seconds | Temperature in ∘C^\circ\text{C}∘C |
|---|---|
| 0 | 20 |
| 10 | 48 |
| 20 | 68 |
| 30 | 80 |
| 40 | 87 |
| 50 | 91 |
| 60 | 93 |
| 70 | 94 |
| 80 | 94 |
| 90 | 94 |
Explain why the temperature of the aluminum block initially rises and then eventually remains at a constant value.
7 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 5.3 Black body radiation, covering 5.3.1 Emission of radiation and temperature, 5.3.2 Radiation balance and constant temperature, and 5.3.3 The temperature of the Earth. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.