Physics — Thermal Physics

Exam board: WJEC  |  Back to subjects

Board-Specific Note

WJEC specification; mainly taken in Wales.

Learning Objectives

• Explain temperature and heat
• Use specific heat capacity
• Apply the gas laws

Key Points

• Q = mcΔθ
• Ideal gas PV = nRT
• Kinetic theory and absolute zero

Lesson Plan (50 minutes)

1. Starter (5 min): Recall prior knowledge of thermal physics with quick questions.
2. Teaching (15 min): Work through each of the learning objectives, explaining principles step by step.
3. Key points review (5 min): Revisit the key points together, confirming understanding.
4. Worked example (10 min): Model the example question: Heat to raise 2 kg of water by 10 K (c=4200 J/kgK)?. Solution: Q = 2 × 4200 × 10 = 84 kJ
5. Practice (10 min): Students attempt the practice questions independently; circulate and support.
6. Plenary (5 min): Review answers and address misconceptions.

Homework

• Heat to melt 0.5 kg of ice (specific latent heat 334 kJ/kg)
• State units of R
• Explain temperature in kinetic terms

Assessment

Check practice answers against the model answer; use the built-in practice questions as formative assessment.