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Thermal radiation: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Thermal radiation (specification points 5.15–5.19), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,554 questions

  1. Q7(d)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(d): The asteroid Ceres orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. During its orbit, Ceres receives electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. The average temperature of

  2. Q8(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(b)(i): Explain why the temperature of sphere P increases at a faster rate than the temperature of sphere Q. (2)

  3. Q8(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(b)(ii): The heater remains switched on. Figure 17 shows how the temperature of sphere P changes with time. temperature 0 time Figure 17 Explain why the temperature of P

  4. Q6(a)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(a)(i): Suggest a possible millivoltmeter reading for the shiny black surface. (1) mV

  5. Q6(a)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(a)(ii): State what must be kept the same to take the measurement for each surface. (1)

  6. Q6(a)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(a)(iii): Suggest why the cube is placed on a block of wood. (1)

  7. Q6(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(b): A hot surface emits radiation of different wavelengths. The graph in Figure 11 shows how the intensity of the radiation emitted changes with the wavelength. 1.2

  8. Q6(c)

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    4 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 6(c): Figure 12 shows two cans, a radiant heater and some other apparatus. The cans absorb thermal radiation from the heater. One can has a matt black surface and the

  9. Q8(d)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(d): Energy is transferred from the Sun to Vesta by radiation. Explain why the temperature on Vesta does not continue to rise, even though it is absorbing energy fro

  10. Q8(e)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(e)(i): State the unit of K. (1)

  11. Q8(e)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(e)(ii): Calculate the intensity of the radiation from the Sun at Vesta. (3) intensity = W/m2

  12. Q2(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 2(c): A person warms their hands in front of a hot fire as shown in Figure 2. (Source: © Andreas Saldavs/Shutterstock) Figure 2 Use words from the box to complete the

  13. Q4(b)(i)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(b)(i): Use the graph in Figure 7 to determine the time when P and Q were at the same temperature. Show your working on the graph. (2) time = minutes

  14. Q4(b)(ii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 markThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(b)(ii): Which of these temperatures is most likely to be room temperature, as shown by the graph in Figure 7? (1) A 100 °C B 70 °C C 10 °C D 0 °C

  15. Q4(b)(iii)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 4(b)(iii): Explain why the curve for P is different from the curve of Q. Use information from Figure 6 and Figure 7 to help your answer. (2)

  16. Q7(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(a): Equal volumes of hot water are added to two cans. The cans are identical apart from their surfaces. One can has a black surface and the other can has a silver s

  17. Q7(b)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    6 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(b): Figure 7 shows some apparatus. bung with hole • cans small infrared heating lamp set of three cans of the same size and material but of different surfaces Figur

  18. Q7(c)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(c)(ii): One star is blue and another star is red. Explain why an astronomer expects the blue star to be hotter than the red star.

  19. Q8(a)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(a): A student investigates how different surfaces radiate energy as they cool. Figure 9 shows some of the apparatus used in a part of the investigation. copper cont

  20. Q8(b)

    June 2018 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksThermal radiation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(b): Figure 10 is a graph of intensity against wavelength for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a halogen lamp. visible light intensity 0 wavelength Figure 10
All 28 questions on Thermal radiation, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(d) (4 marks): The asteroid Ceres orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. During its orbit, Ceres receives electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. The average temperature of
  2. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the temperature of sphere P increases at a faster rate than the temperature of sphere Q. (2)
  3. June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): The heater remains switched on. Figure 17 shows how the temperature of sphere P changes with time. temperature 0 time Figure 17 Explain why the temperature of P
  4. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest a possible millivoltmeter reading for the shiny black surface. (1) mV
  5. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State what must be kept the same to take the measurement for each surface. (1)
  6. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest why the cube is placed on a block of wood. (1)
  7. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b) (2 marks): A hot surface emits radiation of different wavelengths. The graph in Figure 11 shows how the intensity of the radiation emitted changes with the wavelength. 1.2
  8. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c) (4 marks): Figure 12 shows two cans, a radiant heater and some other apparatus. The cans absorb thermal radiation from the heater. One can has a matt black surface and the
  9. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(d) (3 marks): Energy is transferred from the Sun to Vesta by radiation. Explain why the temperature on Vesta does not continue to rise, even though it is absorbing energy fro
  10. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(e)(i) (1 mark): State the unit of K. (1)
  11. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(e)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the intensity of the radiation from the Sun at Vesta. (3) intensity = W/m2
  12. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): A person warms their hands in front of a hot fire as shown in Figure 2. (Source: © Andreas Saldavs/Shutterstock) Figure 2 Use words from the box to complete the
  13. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Use the graph in Figure 7 to determine the time when P and Q were at the same temperature. Show your working on the graph. (2) time = minutes
  14. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these temperatures is most likely to be room temperature, as shown by the graph in Figure 7? (1) A 100 °C B 70 °C C 10 °C D 0 °C
  15. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the curve for P is different from the curve of Q. Use information from Figure 6 and Figure 7 to help your answer. (2)
  16. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a) (2 marks): Equal volumes of hot water are added to two cans. The cans are identical apart from their surfaces. One can has a black surface and the other can has a silver s
  17. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(b) (6 marks): Figure 7 shows some apparatus. bung with hole • cans small infrared heating lamp set of three cans of the same size and material but of different surfaces Figur
  18. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): One star is blue and another star is red. Explain why an astronomer expects the blue star to be hotter than the red star.
  19. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a) (2 marks): A student investigates how different surfaces radiate energy as they cool. Figure 9 shows some of the apparatus used in a part of the investigation. copper cont
  20. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b) (2 marks): Figure 10 is a graph of intensity against wavelength for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a halogen lamp. visible light intensity 0 wavelength Figure 10
  21. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(c)(i) (4 marks): Calculate the gradient of the graph at a time of 30 ms. State the unit. (4) gradient = unit
  22. June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the temperature of the lamp rises and then remains at a constant value. (3)
  23. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Two points, shaded in the table, have not been plotted. Plot these two points on the graph, in Figure 4. (2) 120 100 80 60 temperature °C 40 20 0 0 5 10 15 20 2
  24. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): One of the points on the graph in Figure 4 is anomalous. Circle the anomalous point. (1)
  25. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Draw the best fit curve on the graph in Figure 4. (1)
  26. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(iv) (1 mark): An identical can contains the same amount of boiling water. This can has a shiny silver surface. The measurements are repeated with this can and a new curve is
  27. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Estimate the wavelength where the intensity is at a maximum for each of the objects. (2) wavelength at maximum intensity for object L = µm wavelength at maximum
  28. June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): State, with a reason, which object is the hotter object. (1) Object Reason.

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