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Energy transfers

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Question 10

An industrial chemist investigates how wrapping different numbers of layers of reflective foil insulation around a cylindrical reaction vessel containing a hot chemical mixture changes its cooling rate.

The chemist writes this plan for their investigation:

  • I will use six identical reaction vessels.
  • I will wrap each vessel with a different number of layers of reflective foil (from 0 to 5).
  • I will pour 300 cm3300\text{ cm}^3300 cm3 of the hot chemical mixture into each vessel and wait until the temperature of the mixture cools to 90∘C90^\circ\text{C}90∘C.
  • I will then start a stopwatch and record the final temperature of the mixture after 15 minutes15\text{ minutes}15 minutes.
a.

State the independent variable in the chemist's investigation.

[1]
b.

State the dependent variable in the chemist's investigation.

[1]
c.

The table below shows the chemist's results:

Number of layers of reflective foilFinal temperature (∘C^\circ\text{C}∘C)Temperature decrease (∘C^\circ\text{C}∘C)
05436
128
222
317
417
517

Complete the table by calculating the missing final temperatures.

[2]
d.

Describe the relationship between the number of layers of reflective foil and the temperature decrease of the mixture.

[2]
e.

Suggest how the chemist could improve the reliability of their results.

[1]
Markscheme

Energy transfers Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Energy transfers

36 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Physics Energy transfers. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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