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Changes of state and specific heat capacity: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Changes of state and specific heat capacity (specification points 14.5–14.11), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,554 questions

  1. Q5(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 5(a): Between which two points is all the wax liquid? (1) A P and Q B P and R C Q and S D R and S

  2. Q5(c)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Higher

    3 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Higher, question 5(c)(iii): Explain why, using Figure 8, the time from R to S is much shorter than the time from Q to R on the graph in Figure 7. (3)

  3. Q4(c)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 4(c)(i): A student heats an aluminium block, as shown in Figure 9. 12 V supply thermometer aluminium block heater Figure 9 The aluminium block has a mass of 0.96 kg. The

  4. Q4(c)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 4(c)(ii): Suggest one way the student could reduce the energy loss from the aluminium block during the experiment. (1)

  5. Q4(c)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2 Foundation, question 4(c)(iii): The thermometer does not show the maximum temperature reached by the aluminium block until some time after the heater is switched off. Give one reason for this.

  6. Q3(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(c): A student boils some water. Calculate the amount of thermal energy needed to change 60.0 g of water to steam at its boiling point. The specific latent heat of v

  7. Q9(a)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(a): Which of these changes of state describes sublimation? (1) A from gas to liquid B from liquid to solid C from solid to gas D from solid to liquid

  8. Q9(c)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(c)(i): Use this data to calculate the increase in temperature of the brick. (2)  temperature increase = °C

  9. Q9(c)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(c)(ii): The actual temperature increase will be smaller than you calculated in (i). Explain why the actual temperature increase will be smaller than the value in (i). (

  10. Q9(d)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Higher

    6 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Higher, question 9(d): Describe an investigation to determine the value for the specific heat capacity of water. Your answer should include details of • the apparatus needed • the exp

  11. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(a)(i): Using data from the table in Figure 15, calculate the increase in temperature of the milk. (1)  increase in temperature = °C

  12. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 6(a)(ii): Using data from the table in Figure 15, calculate the specific heat capacity of the milk. Use the equation change in thermal energy specific heat capacity = mas

  13. Q9(c)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(c): A student boils some water. Calculate the amount of thermal energy needed to change 60.0 g of water to steam at its boiling point. The specific latent heat of v

  14. Q9(d)

    June 2024 · Paper 2 Foundation

    6 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(d): A student is investigating the melting of ice. The student has some crushed ice in a beaker at a temperature of −20 °C. The student heats the beaker and its con

  15. Q3(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Higher

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(a): Which of these means changing state from solid directly to gas? (1) A condensing B freezing C melting D sublimating

  16. Q3(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 3(a)(i): Suggest one safety precaution needed when using the electrical heater. (1)

  17. Q3(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 3(a)(ii): Suggest one way of heating the crushed ice without using electricity. (1)

  18. Q3(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 3(b): Figure 6 shows a graph produced from the data collected by the data logger in Figure 5. Labels P, Q, R and S have been added. 20 S 10 temperature in °C Q R 0 P

  19. Q9(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 2 Foundation

    1 markChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2 Foundation, question 9(a): Which of these means changing state from solid directly to gas? (1) A condensing B freezing C melting D sublimating

  20. Q3(d)

    June 2022 · Paper 2 Higher

    2 marksChanges of state and specific heat capacity
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2 Higher, question 3(d): Describe what happens when a substance experiences sublimation. (2)
All 43 questions on Changes of state and specific heat capacity, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(a) (1 mark): Between which two points is all the wax liquid? (1) A P and Q B P and R C Q and S D R and S
  2. June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q5(c)(iii) (3 marks): Explain why, using Figure 8, the time from R to S is much shorter than the time from Q to R on the graph in Figure 7. (3)
  3. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): A student heats an aluminium block, as shown in Figure 9. 12 V supply thermometer aluminium block heater Figure 9 The aluminium block has a mass of 0.96 kg. The
  4. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one way the student could reduce the energy loss from the aluminium block during the experiment. (1)
  5. June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): The thermometer does not show the maximum temperature reached by the aluminium block until some time after the heater is switched off. Give one reason for this.
  6. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c) (2 marks): A student boils some water. Calculate the amount of thermal energy needed to change 60.0 g of water to steam at its boiling point. The specific latent heat of v
  7. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a) (1 mark): Which of these changes of state describes sublimation? (1) A from gas to liquid B from liquid to solid C from solid to gas D from solid to liquid
  8. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(c)(i) (2 marks): Use this data to calculate the increase in temperature of the brick. (2)  temperature increase = °C
  9. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(c)(ii) (2 marks): The actual temperature increase will be smaller than you calculated in (i). Explain why the actual temperature increase will be smaller than the value in (i). (
  10. June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(d) (6 marks): Describe an investigation to determine the value for the specific heat capacity of water. Your answer should include details of • the apparatus needed • the exp
  11. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Using data from the table in Figure 15, calculate the increase in temperature of the milk. (1)  increase in temperature = °C
  12. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using data from the table in Figure 15, calculate the specific heat capacity of the milk. Use the equation change in thermal energy specific heat capacity = mas
  13. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(c) (2 marks): A student boils some water. Calculate the amount of thermal energy needed to change 60.0 g of water to steam at its boiling point. The specific latent heat of v
  14. June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(d) (6 marks): A student is investigating the melting of ice. The student has some crushed ice in a beaker at a temperature of −20 °C. The student heats the beaker and its con
  15. June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (1 mark): Which of these means changing state from solid directly to gas? (1) A condensing B freezing C melting D sublimating
  16. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest one safety precaution needed when using the electrical heater. (1)
  17. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one way of heating the crushed ice without using electricity. (1)
  18. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b) (3 marks): Figure 6 shows a graph produced from the data collected by the data logger in Figure 5. Labels P, Q, R and S have been added. 20 S 10 temperature in °C Q R 0 P
  19. June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(a) (1 mark): Which of these means changing state from solid directly to gas? (1) A condensing B freezing C melting D sublimating
  20. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(d) (2 marks): Describe what happens when a substance experiences sublimation. (2)
  21. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(a) (2 marks): Explain the difference between the term ‘specific heat capacity’ and the term ‘specific latent heat’ when applied to heating substances. (2)
  22. June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b) (3 marks): Figure 19 shows some apparatus that may be used to determine the specific heat capacity of water. J thermometer power supply Joulemeter stirrer water heater Fig
  23. June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(d) (6 marks): A student needs to determine the specific heat capacity of water. Figure 22 shows some of the equipment the student uses. beaker of water low voltage heater Fig
  24. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the amount of thermal energy supplied to the water by the kettle. Give your answer to the appropriate number of significant figures. Use an equation s
  25. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(a)(ii) (3 marks): The kettle is kept switched on and the water continues to boil. After a while, the mass of the water in the kettle has decreased to 1.21 kg. The thermal energy
  26. November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q10(b) (6 marks): This question is about determining the specific heat capacity of aluminium. An aluminium block is placed in boiling water as shown in Figure 21. piece of string
  27. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a) (3 marks): A kettle is used to heat water. Figure 11 shows a graph of temperature against time for the water in the kettle. 100 80 temperature in °C 60 40 20 0 50 100 150
  28. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate a value for the specific heat capacity of copper, using these results. Use the equation change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × cha
  29. November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): The value for the specific heat capacity of copper obtained from the student’s results is lower than the correct value. State two ways that the experiment could
  30. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate a value for the specific heat capacity of copper, using these results. Use the equation change in thermal energy = mass × specific heat capacity × cha
  31. November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): The value for the specific heat capacity of copper obtained from the student’s results is lower than the correct value. State two ways that the experiment could
  32. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the temperature of the water before it was heated. Use an equation selected from the list of equations at the end of this paper. (3) temperature befor
  33. June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): The heating continues until 0.15 kg of the water has turned into steam. The thermal energy needed to turn the boiling water into steam is 0.34 MJ. Calculate the
  34. June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): Solid, liquid and gas are states of matter. Which process describes the change from a solid to a liquid? (1) A melting B freezing C evaporation D condensation
  35. June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c)(i) (2 marks): Figure 11 shows an electric kettle. on-off switch water heating element Figure 11 The kettle contains 1.5 kg of water. The kettle is switched on. Calculate the
  36. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(a)(i) (4 marks): State the measurements needed to calculate the specific heat capacity of water. (4)
  37. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): State two ways that the apparatus could be adapted to improve the procedure. (2) 1 2
  38. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b) (1 mark): The student decides to measure the temperature of the water every minute while it is being heated. Figure 4 shows a graph of the student’s results. 110 100 90 8
  39. June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(c) (2 marks): Another student decides to melt some ice. The student melts 380 g of ice at 0 °C. The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is 3.34 × 105 J/kg. Calculate the th
  40. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(a)(i) (4 marks): State the measurements needed to calculate the specific heat capacity of water. (4)
  41. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(a)(ii) (2 marks): State two ways that the apparatus could be adapted to improve the procedure. (2) 1 2
  42. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b) (1 mark): The student decides to measure the temperature of the water every minute while it is being heated. Figure 18 shows a graph of the student’s results. 110 100 90
  43. June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(c) (2 marks): Another student decides to melt some ice. The student melts 380 g of ice at 0 °C. The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is 3.34 × 105 J/kg. Calculate the th

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