A Level Physics (A2) chapter 3: Temperature MCQs with answers
By Team Megalecture · Updated 4 Nov 2026
72 exam-style questions on Temperature, each with the answer and a short explanation. Ten of them are below to try. The chapter test draws ten fresh questions each time and is marked the moment you finish, with your score by topic.
Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat24 questions
Ten Temperature questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. These ten stay the same; the test draws new ones every time.
1. A platinum resistance thermometer and a thermocouple are each calibrated to read 0 °C at the melting point of ice and 100 °C at the boiling point of water. Both are left in the same well-stirred liquid until their readings are steady. One reads 40.0 °C and the other 39.2 °C. What is the best explanation?
A
one of the thermometers must be faulty, because calibrated thermometers always agree
B
the thermocouple measures temperature in kelvin, not in degrees Celsius
C
a thermocouple can be used only for temperatures above 100 °C
D
the two properties do not vary with temperature in exactly the same way between the fixed points
Show answer
Answer: D. Each scale assumes its property varies linearly between the fixed points, but different properties do not vary in exactly the same way, so the scales agree at 0 °C and 100 °C yet differ in between. This is why the thermodynamic scale, which does not depend on any substance, is the standard.
2. Two identical metal blocks are both at 80 °C. Block X is placed in a room at 20 °C and block Y in a room at 50 °C. Which statement about the blocks just after they are placed in the rooms is correct?
A
X loses thermal energy at the greater rate, because its temperature difference with the surroundings is greater
B
both lose thermal energy at the same rate, because both are at 80 °C
C
Y loses thermal energy at the greater rate, because its surroundings contain more internal energy
D
neither loses thermal energy until it reaches the temperature of its room
Show answer
Answer: A. The rate of net thermal energy transfer increases with the temperature difference: 60 K for X against 30 K for Y, so X cools faster at first.
3. Which list gives only physical properties that vary with temperature and could be used to measure it?
A
the density of a liquid, the mass of a gas, the resistance of a metal
B
the volume of a gas at constant pressure, the mass of a metal, the e.m.f. of a thermocouple
C
the density of a liquid, the volume of a gas at constant pressure, the resistance of a metal
D
the resistance of a metal, the number of molecules in a gas, the e.m.f. of a thermocouple
Show answer
Answer: C. A thermometric property must change measurably with temperature. The density of a liquid, the volume of a gas at constant pressure, the resistance of a metal and the e.m.f. of a thermocouple all do; mass and the number of molecules do not.
4. A metal spoon and a wooden spoon have been in a drawer overnight in a room at 20 °C. The metal spoon feels colder to the touch. Which statement is correct?
A
the metal spoon is at a lower temperature than the wooden spoon in the drawer
B
the metal spoon transfers cold into the hand faster than the wooden spoon does
C
the wooden spoon produces some thermal energy of its own, so it feels warmer
D
both are at 20 °C, but the metal conducts energy away from the hand faster
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Answer: D. After a night in the drawer both spoons are in thermal equilibrium with the room at 20 °C. The hand is hotter, so energy flows out of it; the metal is a much better conductor, so it removes energy faster and feels colder.
5. Object P is at −20 °C and object Q is at 250 K. They are placed in thermal contact. Which statement is correct?
A
there is no net transfer of thermal energy, because both are below 0 °C
B
net thermal energy passes from Q to P, because 250 is greater than −20
C
net thermal energy passes from Q to P, because Q is at the higher thermodynamic temperature
D
net thermal energy passes from P to Q, because P is at the higher thermodynamic temperature
Show answer
Answer: D. −20 °C = 253 K, which is higher than 250 K, so net thermal energy passes from P to Q. Comparing the numbers 250 and −20 directly mixes the two scales.
6. Block X, at 60 °C, has a much greater mass and internal energy than block Y, at 90 °C. The blocks are placed in contact and insulated from the surroundings. What happens?
A
there is a net transfer of thermal energy from X to Y, because X has more internal energy
B
there is a net transfer of thermal energy from X to Y, because X has the greater mass
C
there is no net transfer, because the larger mass of X balances the higher temperature of Y
D
there is a net transfer of thermal energy from Y to X until they reach the same temperature
Show answer
Answer: D. The direction of thermal energy transfer is set by temperature alone: from the region of higher temperature to the region of lower temperature. Mass and internal energy affect how much each temperature changes, not the direction.
7. The resistance of a metal wire is 20.0 Ω at 0 °C and 27.8 Ω at 100 °C. Assuming the resistance varies linearly with temperature on this scale, what temperature corresponds to a resistance of 24.3 Ω?
A
55.1 °C
B
87.4 °C
C
44.9 °C
D
24.3 °C
Show answer
Answer: A. θ = (R − R0)/(R100 − R0) × 100 = (24.3 − 20.0)/(27.8 − 20.0) × 100 = 55.1 °C. 87.4 °C comes from dividing 24.3 by 27.8, which ignores the resistance at 0 °C.
8. Which statement about absolute zero is correct?
A
it is −273.15 K, the lowest temperature that any substance can reach
B
it is 0 °C, the temperature at which pure water freezes at normal pressure
C
it is 0 K, the lowest possible temperature, where internal energy is a minimum
D
it is the temperature at which every gas condenses into a liquid
Show answer
Answer: C. Absolute zero is zero kelvin, which is −273.15 °C (not −273.15 K). No temperature can be lower, and at absolute zero the internal energy of a substance is a minimum.
9. A cup of hot tea is left in a room. When does the net transfer of thermal energy from the tea stop?
A
when the internal energy of the tea equals that of the air in the room
B
when the tea reaches the temperature of the room
C
when the tea reaches 0 °C
D
when all the internal energy of the tea has been lost
Show answer
Answer: B. Net transfer continues only while there is a temperature difference. Once the tea is at room temperature it is in thermal equilibrium with the room, although it still has a large internal energy.
10. How much energy is needed to change 0.25 kg of ice at 0 °C into water at 30 °C? (Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 × 105 J kg−1; specific heat capacity of water = 4200 J kg−1 K−1.)
A
8.35 × 104 J
B
3.15 × 104 J
C
5.20 × 104 J
D
1.15 × 105 J
Show answer
Answer: D. Melting: mL = 0.25 × 3.34 × 105 = 8.35 × 104 J. Warming: mcΔθ = 0.25 × 4200 × 30 = 3.15 × 104 J. The total is 1.15 × 105 J; the other values leave out one stage or subtract one from the other.
72, each with the answer and a short explanation, across 3 topics: Thermal equilibrium, Temperature scales, Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat. Every chapter test draws ten of them, so you can take it many times.
Is the A Level Physics (A2) chapter 3 test free?
Yes. The test, the answers and the explanations are free and need no sign-up. Sign in only if you want your scores kept across devices.
How is the chapter test marked?
The moment you press Finish: your score, the right answer and an explanation for every question, and the ones you got wrong saved in My mistakes to retry.
