1. Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics
Conceptual Physical
Science 5th Edition
Chapter 6:
Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics
© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

2. The kind of molecular motion having most to do with temperature is
A. translational motion.
rotational motion.
internal vibrational motion.
D. longitudinal motion.
A. translational motion.

3. The kind of molecular motion having most to do with temperature is
A. translational motion.
rotational motion.
internal vibrational motion.
D. longitudinal motion.
A. translational motion.

4. Absolute zero corresponds to a temperature of
A. 0 K.
–273C.
Both of the above.
D. None of the above.
C. Both of the above.

5. Absolute zero corresponds to a temperature of
A. 0 K.
–273C.
Both of the above.
D. None of the above.
Comment:
At absolute zero, a substance has no more energy to give up.
0 K = –273C.
C. Both of these.

6. In your room is a table, chair, and you
In your room is a table, chair, and you. Which of these has a temperature normally greater than the temperature of the air in the room?
A. Table.
Chair.
You.
D. All have about the same temperature.
A. You.

7. In your room is a table, chair, and you
In your room is a table, chair, and you. Which of these has a temperature normally greater than the temperature of the air in the room?
A. Table.
Chair.
You.
D. All have about the same temperature.
A. You.

8. Heat is simply another word for
A. temperature.
thermal energy.
thermal energy that flows from hot to cold.
D. radiant energy.
C. thermal energy that flows from hot to cold.

9. Heat is simply another word for
A. temperature.
thermal energy.
thermal energy that flows from hot to cold.
D. radiant energy.
Comment:
Be sure to distinguish between temperature, thermal energy, and flowing thermal energy.
C. thermal energy that flows from hot to cold.

10. Thermal energy is normally measured in units of
A. calories.
joules.
Both of the above.
D. Neither of the above.
C. Both of the above.

11. Thermal energy is normally measured in units of
A. calories.
joules.
Both of the above.
D. Neither of the above.
Explanation:
Calories and joules, like miles and meters, are different units for the same thing. 1 calorie = 4.19 joules.
C. Both of the above.

12. If a red hot thumbtack is immersed in warm water, the direction of heat flow will be from the
A. warm water to the red hot thumbtack.
red hot thumbtack to the warm water.
no heat flow.
D. Not enough information.
B. red hot thumbtack to the warm water.

13. If a red hot thumbtack is immersed in warm water, the direction of heat flow will be from the
A. warm water to the red hot thumbtack.
red hot thumbtack to the warm water.
no heat flow.
D. Not enough information.
B. red hot thumbtack to the warm water.

14. The same quantity of heat is added to different amounts of water in two equal-size containers. The temperature of the smaller amount of water
A. decreases more.
increases more.
does not change.
D. Not enough information.
B. increases more.

15. The same quantity of heat is added to different amounts of water in two equal-size containers. The temperature of the smaller amount of water
A. decreases more.
increases more.
does not change.
D. Not enough information.
B. increases more.

16. You heat a half-cup of tea and its temperature rises by 4C
You heat a half-cup of tea and its temperature rises by 4C. How much will the temperature rise if you add the same amount of heat to a full cup of tea?
A. 0C.
2C.
4C.
D. 8C.
B. 2C.

17. You heat a half-cup of tea and its temperature rises by 4C
You heat a half-cup of tea and its temperature rises by 4C. How much will the temperature rise if you add the same amount of heat to a full cup of tea?
A. 0C.
2C.
4C.
D. 8C.
B. 2C.

18. There is twice as much molecular kinetic energy in 2 liters of boiling water as in 1 liter of boiling water. Which will be the same for both?
A. Temperature.
Thermal energy.
Both of the above.
D. None of the above.
A. Temperature.

19. There is twice as much molecular kinetic energy in 2 liters of boiling water as in 1 liter of boiling water. Which will be the same for both?
A. Temperature.
Thermal energy.
Both of the above.
D. None of the above.
Explanation:
Average kinetic energy of molecules is the same, which means temperature is the same for both.
A. Temperature.

20. The first law of thermodynamics is a restatement of the
A. conservation of energy.
conservation of momentum.
Both of these.
D. None of the above.
A. conservation of energy.

21. The first law of thermodynamics is a restatement of the
A. conservation of energy.
conservation of momentum.
Both of these.
D. None of the above.
A. conservation of energy.

22. The second law of thermodynamics tells us that the direction of heat flow is normally
A. from hot to cold.
from cold to hot.
independent of temperature.
D. present with external effort.
A. from hot to cold.

23. The second law of thermodynamics tells us that the direction of heat flow is normally
A. from hot to cold.
from cold to hot.
independent of temperature.
D. present with external effort.
A. from hot to cold.

24. The third law of thermodynamics has to do with
A. the conservation of energy.
the direction of time.
energy dissipation.
D. absolute zero.
D. absolute zero.

25. The third law of thermodynamics has to do with
A. the conservation of energy.
the direction of time.
energy dissipation.
D. absolute zero.
D. absolute zero.

26. When work is done on a system, compressing air in a tire pump, for example, the temperature of the system
A. increases.
decreases.
remains unchanged.
D. is no longer evident.
A. increases.

27. When work is done on a system, compressing air in a tire pump, for example, the temperature of the system
A. increases.
decreases.
remains unchanged.
D. is no longer evident.
Explanation:
In accord with the first law of thermodynamics, work input increases the energy of the system.
A. increases.

28. In nature, high-quality energy tends to transform to
A. lower-quality energy.
entropy.
time’s arrow.
D. equally useful forms.
A. lower-quality energy.

29. In nature, high-quality energy tends to transform to
A. lower-quality energy.
entropy.
time’s arrow.
D. equally useful forms.
A. lower-quality energy.

30. To say that water has a high specific heat capacity is to say that water
A. requires a lot of energy in order to increase in temperature.
gives off a lot of energy in cooling.
has a lot of “thermal inertia.”
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.

31. To say that water has a high specific heat capacity is to say that water
A. requires a lot of energy in order to increase in temperature.
gives off a lot of energy in cooling.
has a lot of “thermal inertia.”
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.

32. Hot sand cools off faster at night than plants and vegetation
Hot sand cools off faster at night than plants and vegetation. This indicates the specific heat capacity for sand is
A. less than that of plants.
more than that of plants.
likely the same as that of plants.
D. unknown, because there is not enough information.
A. less than that of plants.

33. Hot sand cools off faster at night than plants and vegetation
Hot sand cools off faster at night than plants and vegetation. This indicates the specific heat capacity for sand is
A. less than that of plants.
more than that of plants.
likely the same as that of plants.
D. unknown, because there is not enough information.
Explanation:
Lower specific heat means less resistance to change.
A. less than that of plants.

34. Aluminum has a specific heat capacity more than twice that of copper
Aluminum has a specific heat capacity more than twice that of copper. If equal amounts of heat are given to equal masses of aluminum and copper, the metal that more rapidly increases in temperature is
A. aluminum.
copper.
neither—actually, both will increase at the same rate.
D. None of the above.
B. copper.

35. Aluminum has a specific heat capacity more than twice that of copper
Aluminum has a specific heat capacity more than twice that of copper. If equal amounts of heat are given to equal masses of aluminum and copper, the metal that more rapidly increases in temperature is
A. aluminum.
copper.
neither—actually, both will increase at the same rate.
D. None of the above.
Explanation:
Copper has about half the “thermal inertia” of aluminum.
B. copper.

36. The high specific heat capacity of water has great importance in
A. climates.
cooling systems.
ocean currents.
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.

37. The high specific heat capacity of water has great importance in
A. climates.
cooling systems.
ocean currents.
D. All of the above.
D. All of the above.

38. Which of these locations tends to have lower extremes in yearly temperature?
A. Dallas, Texas.
Sacramento, California.
St. Louis, Missouri.
D. Honolulu, Hawaii.
D. Honolulu, Hawaii.

39. Which of these locations tends to have lower extremes in yearly temperature?
A. Dallas, Texas.
Sacramento, California.
St. Louis, Missouri.
D. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Comment:
Hawaii is an island where climate is moderate, thanks to water’s high specific heat.
D. Honolulu, Hawaii.

40. The thermal expansion of steel is about the same as that of
A. water.
air.
concrete.
D. All of the above.
C. concrete.

41. The thermal expansion of steel is about the same as that of
A. water.
air.
concrete.
D. All of the above.
Explanation:
This fact is important to civil engineers in the construction of concrete that is reinforced with steel rods.
C. concrete.

42. When stringing telephone lines between poles in the summer, it is advisable to allow the lines to
A. sag.
be taut.
be close to the ground.
D. allow ample space for birds.
A. sag.

43. When stringing telephone lines between poles in the summer, it is advisable to allow the lines to
A. sag.
be taut.
be close to the ground.
D. allow ample space for birds.
Explanation:
Telephone lines are longer in a warmer summer and shorter in a cold winter. Hence, they sag more on hot summer days than in winter. If the lines are not strung with enough sag in summer, they might contract too much and snap during the winter—especially when carrying ice.
A. sag.

44. A bimetallic strip consists of a strip of metal composed of
A. an alloy of brass and iron.
braided brass and iron wires flattened into a strip.
a brass strip welded along its length to an iron strip.
D. a strip of metal with brass on one end, iron on the other end.
C. a brass strip welded along its length to an iron strip.

45. A bimetallic strip consists of a strip of metal composed of
A. an alloy of brass and iron.
braided brass and iron wires flattened into a strip.
a brass strip welded along its length to an iron strip.
D. a strip of metal with brass on one end, iron on the other end.
C. a brass strip welded along its length to an iron strip.

46. The fact that gasoline will overflow from an automobile tank on a hot day is evidence that the expansion of gasoline is
A. more than the tank material.
about the same as the tank material.
less than the tank material.
D. nonexistent.
A. more than the tank material.

47. The fact that gasoline will overflow from an automobile tank on a hot day is evidence that the expansion of gasoline is
A. more than the tank material.
about the same as the tank material.
less than the tank material.
D. nonexistent.
A. more than the tank material.

48. Microscopic slush in water tends to make the water
A. more dense.
less dense.
more slippery.
D. warmer.
B. less dense.

49. Microscopic slush in water tends to make the water
A. more dense.
less dense.
more slippery.
D. warmer.
B. less dense.

50. The greatest expansion of water occurs when
A. it turns to ice.
it cools at 4C.
it warms at 4C.
D. None of the above.
A. it turns to ice.

51. The greatest expansion of water occurs when
A. it turns to ice.
it cools at 4C.
it warms at 4C.
D. None of the above
Comment:
Sure, ice water expands a bit until it reaches 4°C, but the expansion of water when it turns to ice is much greater.
A. it turns to ice.

52. Water at 4C will expand when it is slightly
A. cooled.
warmed.
Both of the above.
D. None of the above.
C. Both of the above.

53. Water at 4C will expand when it is slightly
A. cooled.
warmed.
Both of the above.
D. None of the above.
Comment:
The density of 4C water will also decrease when slightly cooled or warmed.
C. Both of the above.

54. Water at 4C will sink to the bottom of a pond because
A. of thermal currents.
of the absence of thermal currents at low temperatures.
like a rock, it is denser than surrounding water.
D. of the presence of microscopic ice crystals.
C. like a rock, it is denser than surrounding water.

55. Water at 4C will sink to the bottom of a pond because
A. of thermal currents.
of the absence of thermal currents at low temperatures.
like a rock, it is denser than surrounding water.
D. of the presence of microscopic ice crystals.
C. like a rock, it is denser than surrounding water.

56. When a sample of 0C water is heated, it first
A. expands.
contracts.
remains unchanged.
D. Not enough information.
B. contracts.

57. When a sample of 0C water is heated, it first
A. expands.
contracts.
remains unchanged.
D. Not enough information.
Explanation:
Water continues to contract until it reaches a temperature of 4C. With further increase in temperature beyond 4C, water then expands.
B. contracts.

58. When a sample of 4C water is cooled, it
A. expands.
contracts.
remains unchanged.
D. Not enough information.
A. expands.

59. When a sample of 4C water is cooled, it
A. expands.
contracts.
remains unchanged.
D. Not enough information.
Explanation:
Parts of the water will crystallize and occupy more space.
A. expands.

60. A metal ring has a gap in it, looking like the letter C
A metal ring has a gap in it, looking like the letter C. The ring expands when it is heated. Interestingly, the gap
A. becomes narrower.
expands also, as much as if metal filled the gap.
expands, but less than if metal filled it.
keeps its size, neither expanding or shrinking.
B. expands also, as much as if metal filled the gap.

61. A metal ring has a gap in it, looking like the letter C
A metal ring has a gap in it, looking like the letter C. The ring expands when it is heated. Interestingly, the gap
A. becomes narrower.
expands also, as much as if metal filled the gap.
expands, but less than if metal filled it.
keeps its size, neither expanding or shrinking.
B. expands also, as much as if metal filled the gap.