Thermal Physics
What is the difference between heat and temperature?
Heat is the transfer of thermal energy, while temperature measures how hot or cold an object is.
Which property of a sound wave determines its loudness?
Amplitude
What instrument is used to measure current?
An ammeter.
What causes tectonic plates to move?
Convection currents in the Earth's mantle.
What is a nebula?
A cloud of gas and dust in space.
A piece of wood floats on water. What does this tell us about its density?
Its density is lower than the density of water.
Which property of a sound wave determines its pitch?
Frequency
What instrument is used to measure voltage?
A voltmeter.
Why do earthquakes often occur at plate boundaries?
Because tectonic plates interact and release energy at their boundaries.
Why are nebulae called stellar nurseries?
Because new stars form inside them.
Name the three methods of thermal energy transfer.
Conduction, convection and radiation.
What happens when two sound waves combine and produce a louder sound?
Constructive interference (reinforcement).
In a parallel circuit, what happens to the current when it reaches a junction?
The current splits between the branches.
Name one piece of evidence that supports the theory of plate tectonics.
Matching coastlines, fossil evidence, volcano distribution, earthquake distribution, or magnetic striping.
What is the leading theory for how the Moon formed?
The Collision Theory.
Why does sweating help cool the body?
Water evaporates from the skin, taking thermal energy away and cooling the body.
What happens when two sound waves combine and cancel each other out?
Destructive interference.
Calculate the resistance of a component if the voltage is 12 V and the current is 3 A.
4
Name two processes that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in the carbon cycle.
Respiration, decomposition, or combustion.
Give one consequence of a large asteroid colliding with Earth.
Climate change, tsunamis, fires, blocked sunlight, or mass extinction.
Explain why a metal spoon left in a hot cup of tea becomes hot.
Thermal energy is transferred through the spoon by conduction from the hot end to the cooler end.
Two waves have the same amplitude, but one has twice the frequency of the other. How will their sounds differ?
They will have the same loudness, but the higher-frequency wave will have a higher pitch.
A circuit has a voltage of 9 V and a resistance of 3 Ω. Calculate the current.
3
Name three predicted impacts of climate change.
Rising sea levels, flooding, droughts, extreme weather events, heatwaves, or changing rainfall patterns.
Scientists believe an asteroid contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Explain how an asteroid impact could cause global climate change.
Dust and debris block sunlight, reducing temperatures and photosynthesis, disrupting food chains and causing widespread extinction.