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Kinetic theory: Eduqas A‑Level Physics questions

Every Eduqas A-Level Physics exam question on 1.7 Kinetic theory, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,592 questions

  1. Q6(a)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    2 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 6(a): Calculate the mean kinetic energy of argon molecules at a temperature of 20 °C. [2]

  2. Q6(b)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    4 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 6(b): Determine the root mean square (rms) speed of argon molecules at this temperature. [4]

  3. Q6(c)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 6(c): Neon has a relative molecular mass of 20. Without further calculations, compare the following properties of neon with that of argon at 20 °C: • mean molecular k

  4. Q8(c)

    June 2025 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Component 1, question 8(c): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Laser Fusion 1 Apart from the hydrogen fusion bomb, which actually requires a fission bomb to detonate i

  5. Q6(a)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    1 mark1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 6(a): Define the ‘mole’. [1]

  6. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 6(b)(i): Use the ideal gas equation and pV  Nmc 2 to show that, for one mole, the 3 3 total translational kinetic energy is given by RT . [3] 2

  7. Q6(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 6(b)(ii): The mean square speeds of the molecules in a monatomic ideal gas sample are plotted as a function of temperature in the graph below. 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 50 10

  8. Q7(a)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 7(a): Confirm that the change AB occurs at a constant temperature. [3]

  9. Q7(b)(iii)

    June 2024 · Component 1

    4 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Component 1, question 7(b)(iii): By considering the motion of the gas molecules, explain: • how a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container • why the pressure increases as temperature

  10. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    2 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 4(b)(i): Confirm that the process A → B is isothermal (i.e. it takes place at a constant temperature). [2]

  11. Q7(a)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 7(a): Explain why, according to the kinetic theory, a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container. You will need to use the idea of momentum as well as that o

  12. Q7(b)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    2 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 7(b): At one instant, three molecules in a sample of a gas have speeds in m s–1 of 394, 453 and 527 Calculate their rms speed. [2]

  13. Q7(c)

    June 2023 · Component 1

    4 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Component 1, question 7(c): The speed of sound, vs, in nitrogen at three temperatures is given below. Temperature / K 100 200 300 vs / m s–1 204 288 353 There is a simple mathematical rela

  14. Q6(a)

    Autumn 2021 · Component 1

    6 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2021 Component 1, question 6(a): The diagram shows apparatus that may be used to estimate the absolute zero of temperature, in °C, by investigating the expansion of a gas at constant pressure.

  15. Q6(b)(i)

    Autumn 2021 · Component 1

    2 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2021 Component 1, question 6(b)(i): One assumption of the kinetic theory of ideal gases is that a gas consists of particles (molecules) in rapid random, translational, motion. State two other assu

  16. Q6(b)(ii)

    Autumn 2021 · Component 1

    7 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2021 Component 1, question 6(b)(ii): A cylinder of volume 0.050 m3 contains 20.0 mol of oxygen gas at a pressure of 1.00 × 106 Pa. [Relative molecular mass of oxygen = 32.0.] I. Calculate the rms s

  17. Q7(a)

    Autumn 2021 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2021 Component 1, question 7(a): Calculate the temperatures of the gas at A and at B. [3]

  18. Q5(a)(i)

    Autumn 2020 · Component 1

    2 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2020 Component 1, question 5(a)(i): Show that the mean kinetic energy of (monatomic) gas molecules at a temperature of 1 500 K is approximately 3 × 10–20 J. [2]

  19. Q5(a)(ii)

    Autumn 2020 · Component 1

    2 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2020 Component 1, question 5(a)(ii): At 1 500 K, sodium is a gas of monatomic molecules, each of mass 3.82 × 10–26 kg. Calculate their rms speed. [2]

  20. Q5(b)(i)

    Autumn 2020 · Component 1

    3 marks1.7 Kinetic theory
    The whole paper ↗
    Autumn 2020 Component 1, question 5(b)(i): Discuss whether a molecule with a speed of 6.40 km s–1 could be present at some instant in sodium gas at 1 500 K and, if so, how it could have acquired this spe
All 35 questions on Kinetic theory, as a list
  1. June 2025, Component 1, Q6(a) (2 marks): Calculate the mean kinetic energy of argon molecules at a temperature of 20 °C. [2]
  2. June 2025, Component 1, Q6(b) (4 marks): Determine the root mean square (rms) speed of argon molecules at this temperature. [4]
  3. June 2025, Component 1, Q6(c) (3 marks): Neon has a relative molecular mass of 20. Without further calculations, compare the following properties of neon with that of argon at 20 °C: • mean molecular k
  4. June 2025, Component 1, Q8(c) (3 marks): Read through the following article carefully. Paragraph Laser Fusion 1 Apart from the hydrogen fusion bomb, which actually requires a fission bomb to detonate i
  5. June 2024, Component 1, Q6(a) (1 mark): Define the ‘mole’. [1]
  6. June 2024, Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Use the ideal gas equation and pV  Nmc 2 to show that, for one mole, the 3 3 total translational kinetic energy is given by RT . [3] 2
  7. June 2024, Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): The mean square speeds of the molecules in a monatomic ideal gas sample are plotted as a function of temperature in the graph below. 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 50 10
  8. June 2024, Component 1, Q7(a) (3 marks): Confirm that the change AB occurs at a constant temperature. [3]
  9. June 2024, Component 1, Q7(b)(iii) (4 marks): By considering the motion of the gas molecules, explain: • how a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container • why the pressure increases as temperature
  10. June 2023, Component 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Confirm that the process A → B is isothermal (i.e. it takes place at a constant temperature). [2]
  11. June 2023, Component 1, Q7(a) (3 marks): Explain why, according to the kinetic theory, a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container. You will need to use the idea of momentum as well as that o
  12. June 2023, Component 1, Q7(b) (2 marks): At one instant, three molecules in a sample of a gas have speeds in m s–1 of 394, 453 and 527 Calculate their rms speed. [2]
  13. June 2023, Component 1, Q7(c) (4 marks): The speed of sound, vs, in nitrogen at three temperatures is given below. Temperature / K 100 200 300 vs / m s–1 204 288 353 There is a simple mathematical rela
  14. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q6(a) (6 marks): The diagram shows apparatus that may be used to estimate the absolute zero of temperature, in °C, by investigating the expansion of a gas at constant pressure.
  15. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): One assumption of the kinetic theory of ideal gases is that a gas consists of particles (molecules) in rapid random, translational, motion. State two other assu
  16. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (7 marks): A cylinder of volume 0.050 m3 contains 20.0 mol of oxygen gas at a pressure of 1.00 × 106 Pa. [Relative molecular mass of oxygen = 32.0.] I. Calculate the rms s
  17. Autumn 2021, Component 1, Q7(a) (3 marks): Calculate the temperatures of the gas at A and at B. [3]
  18. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q5(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the mean kinetic energy of (monatomic) gas molecules at a temperature of 1 500 K is approximately 3 × 10–20 J. [2]
  19. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): At 1 500 K, sodium is a gas of monatomic molecules, each of mass 3.82 × 10–26 kg. Calculate their rms speed. [2]
  20. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Discuss whether a molecule with a speed of 6.40 km s–1 could be present at some instant in sodium gas at 1 500 K and, if so, how it could have acquired this spe
  21. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): A cylinder of gas fitted with a pressure gauge is surrounded by melting ice. The gas pressure stabilises at 96 kPa. The cylinder is then surrounded instead by b
  22. Autumn 2020, Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Show clearly that the gas is at the same temperature at A and C, and determine this temperature. [3]
  23. Autumn 2020, Component 2, Q8(c)(iii) (2 marks): The temperature of the photosphere of the star is 7 100 K. Calculate the mean kinetic energy of particles in the photosphere. Give your answer in eV. [2]
  24. June 2019, Component 1, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Determine the number of atoms per m3 of copper. The uncertainty is not required. The atomic mass of copper is 63.5 u. [2]
  25. June 2019, Component 1, Q6(b)(i) (5 marks): I. Calculate the number of molecules per m3 for a gas (assumed to be ideal) at a temperature of 15 °C and a pressure of 101 kPa. [3] II. When asked why there ar
  26. June 2019, Component 1, Q6(b)(ii) (4 marks): I. Two gases have molecular masses m(1) and m(2). Show clearly that when the gases are at the same temperature, the ratio of the rms speeds of their molecules i
  27. June 2018, Component 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): State two assumptions that must be made about the molecules of an ideal gas in order to derive the kinetic theory equation: [2] p = ρ c2 1 3
  28. June 2018, Component 1, Q7(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the rms speed of the argon molecules. [3]
  29. June 2018, Component 1, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): I. State what would happen to the rms speed if the kelvin temperature of the gas in the cylinder were doubled, justifying your answer. [2] II. Explain briefly w
  30. June 2018, Component 1, Q8(a)(i) (3 marks): Show that the expansion occurs at a constant temperature of approximately 360 K. [3]
  31. June 2018, Component 1, Q9(b) (2 marks): Calculate the temperature at which electrons are expected to have an rms speed of 100 km s–1 (see Equation 1). [2]
  32. June 2018, Component 1, Q9(g) (4 marks): Explain why resistivity should be proportional to the square root of temperature (see paragraph 8 and Equation 9). [4]
  33. June 2017, Component 1, Q5(a) (6 marks): Explain, in terms of molecules, how a gas exerts a pressure on the walls of its container, and why this pressure increases with temperature. [6 QER]
  34. June 2017, Component 1, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): the rms speed of the molecules; [3]
  35. June 2017, Component 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): the temperature of the gas. [3]

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