Changes of state: OCR GCSE Physics A questions

Every OCR GCSE Physics A exam question on P1.2 Changes of state, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 69 questions on Changes of state, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q15 (1 mark): A large freezer contains 10.0 kg of ice at 0 °C. How much energy is needed to change the ice into water? Use the equation: thermal energy for a change in state
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(i) (1 mark): What is the initial temperature of liquid A? Initial temperature = °C [1]
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(ii) (1 mark): What is the freezing point of liquid A? Freezing point = °C [1]
June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(iii) (4 marks): Liquid A has a specific heat capacity of 3750 J / kg °C. Calculate the energy needed to cool the liquid from its initial temperature until it starts to freeze.
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): Energy is steadily supplied to a solid substance. The graph shows the change in temperature with time. Temperature X Time Which term describes what is happening
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q20(a) (2 marks): The scientist wants to get more accurate values for the specific heat capacities of the different materials. Suggest one thing the scientist can do to improve t
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q20(b) (2 marks): The table shows the results for the materials. Specific heat capacity Material (J / kg °C) aluminium 900 concrete 1000 copper 385 iron 450 A chef buys a saucepa
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q20(c) (2 marks): Complete the sentence to explain the meaning of specific latent heat of vaporisation. Specific latent heat of vaporisation is the energy transferred when [2]
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): Ice at 0 °C is heated until it turns into water at 25 °C. The mass of the ice is known. Which extra information is needed to calculate the energy required for t
June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q13 (1 mark): Which change of state releases energy? A Condensing B Evaporating C Melting D Sublimating Your answer [1]
June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q15 (1 mark): A student uses an immersion heater to increase the temperature of 0.25 kg of oil. The student calculates the energy transferred to the oil. This is a graph of t
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): Which statement is an example of a chemical change? A Boiling milk B Freezing water C Frying an egg D Melting ice cream Your answer [1]
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): Specific latent heat is the energy transferred when 1kg of a substance changes state. Which row lists the correct change of state for specific latent heat of fu
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): The mass of an aluminium block is 1.5 kg. Its temperature changes by 5 °C. What is the change in thermal energy of the aluminium block? The specific heat capaci
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the energy required by the freezer to cool 0.50 kg of solid vaccines from –5 °C to –35 °C. Assume the specific heat capacity of the vaccines is 1900 J
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(b)(i) (2 marks): When the vaccine is used by doctors, it has to be changed back into a liquid. The temperature of the vaccine is first raised to its melting point but it remains
June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(b)(ii) (6 marks): Calculate the number of 5 mg vaccine doses which can be melted using 6800 J of energy. Assume the specific latent heat of fusion for the vaccines is 340 000 J /
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(b)(i) (1 mark): State one way to improve the experiment. [1]
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(b)(ii) (1 mark): Explain why the cardboard tube is turned upside down very quickly. [1]
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(b)(iv) (4 marks): Student B repeats the experiment using a different tube. The total change in potential energy of 0.030 kg of lead pellets for this tube is 21 J. The temperature
June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q22(b)(v) (3 marks): Student A says, ‘I think we should use a metal with a higher specific heat capacity. This will give us more accurate results.’ Student B says, ‘I think we shoul
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): 10 g of ice melts and then evaporates. What is the mass of the gas produced? A 0 g B 1 g C 10 g D 11 g Your answer [1]
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): A student is studying examples of physical and chemical changes. Chemical change Physical change A boiling water frying an egg B boiling water melting ice C bur
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): Mercury has a melting point of –40 °C and a boiling point of 357 °C. State at –20 °C State at 300 °C A solid gas B solid liquid C liquid liquid D liquid gas Whi
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): A student increases the temperature of a metal block. They measure how the temperature of the metal block increases with time. The graph shows their results. 40
June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q19(b) (3 marks): The temperature of the water increases from 20 °C to 95 °C. The mass of water is 10 kg. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / kg °C. Calculate the ene
June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): A student heats a substance steadily from a solid to a gas. The temperature change is recorded on the graph. Temperature D C B A 0 Time Which section of the gra
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): The mass of a block of ice at a temperature of 0°C is 2 kg. The specific latent heat of ice is 3.34 × 105 J / kg. What amount of energy is needed to melt the bl
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(b)(i) (4 marks): The table shows the student’s results. Energy supplied to heater 24kJ Starting temperature 20°C Final temperature 45°C Change in temperature 25°C Mass of block
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(b)(ii) (1 mark): The value calculated in (b)(i) is higher than the actual value. The student recorded all data correctly. Suggest why the value calculated is higher than the act
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(b)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest how the experiment could be improved. Use Fig. 20.1. [1]
June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(c) (2 marks): The student repeats the same experiment using 3 different blocks, A, B and C. • Each block is made of a different metal but has the same mass. • The power of th
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): Which of the following is an example of a chemical change? A Burning B Evaporating C Melting D Sublimating Your answer [1]
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q13 (1 mark): A teacher evaporates 50 g of water. They collect all of the steam and condense it back into water. Which statement is true? A The mass of the steam produced is
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q15 (1 mark): The specific latent heat of fusion for lead is 24 500 J / kg. Calculate the thermal energy required for 0.2 kg of lead to melt. Use an equation from the data sh
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q11 (1 mark): A student calculates the change in the thermal energy of a 1 kg metal block. The student heats the block and measures the change in temperature. What other quan
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q18(a)(i) (2 marks): The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J / kg °C. Calculate the energy needed to raise the temperature of the water to 100 °C. Use an equation from the dat
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q18(a)(ii) (2 marks): The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2 260 000 J / kg. Calculate the energy needed to turn all the water at 100 °C into steam. Use an equation f
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q18(a)(iii) (3 marks): Use your answers from (a)(i) and (a)(ii) to calculate the total energy needed to turn 0.20 kg of water at 20 °C into steam at 100 °C. Write your answer in stand
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q18(b)(i) (2 marks): Suggest two reasons why the actual energy needed to turn the water into steam was more than the value calculated in (a)(iii). Reason 1 Reason 2 [2]
November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q18(b)(ii) (1 mark): Another student says, ‘You should repeat your experiment three times and calculate a mean.’ Suggest one advantage of repeating an experiment. [1]
November 2021, Paper 4 Higher, Q20(c) (6 marks): A student uses an electric heater to raise the temperature of water. Fig. 20.1 shows some of the equipment the student uses. A Low voltage V power supply Electr
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q15 (1 mark): Energy is needed to change ice into water. Calculate the energy needed to change 5 kg of ice into water. Use an equation from the data sheet to help you. Specif
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): A student investigates what happens when she heats a beaker of water. The temperature The state changes The energy stored in increases the water changes A ✓ ✓ ✓
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a) (5 marks): Use the graph to calculate the specific heat capacity of the substance. Suggest what material it could be from the table. Specific heat capacity = J / kg °C Mat
November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(b) (2 marks): Suggest two reasons why the scientist cannot be certain that the substance has been identified correctly. 1 2 [2]
November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(b)(i) (5 marks): Table 21.1 gives some information about a different kettle. Energy transferred to the kettle 525 000 J Mass of water 1.2 kg Starting temperature of water 25 °C
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(a)(i) (1 mark): Write down the mass of the water produced. Mass = g [1]
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain your answer to (a)(i). [2]
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(b) (1 mark): Describe one difference between a physical change and a chemical change. [1]
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(i) (3 marks): There are 5 steps to the method for this experiment. Complete the missing steps for this method. Step 1 – Put seawater into beaker A and tap water into beaker B
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one mistake the student made when choosing their equipment. [1]
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q22(c)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest two improvements to the method followed. 1 2 [2]
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q21 (6 marks): 21* A student does an experiment using 0.2 kg of water. Here is some information from the experiment: The aim is to find the energy needed to raise the temperat
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(a)(i) (1 mark): Write down the mass of the water produced. Mass = g [1]
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain your answer to (a)(i). [2]
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(b) (1 mark): Describe one difference between a physical change and a chemical change. [1]
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(c)(i) (3 marks): There are 5 steps to the method for this experiment. Complete the missing steps for this method. Step 1 – Put seawater into beaker A and tap water into beaker B
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(c)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one mistake the student made when choosing their equipment. [1]
June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(c)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest two improvements to the method followed. 1 2 [2]
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q15 (1 mark): A student studies how the temperature falls when a liquid cools. Temperature X 0 Time What is happening at point X on the graph? A Boiling B Freezing C Melting
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the mean specific heat capacity. Answer = J/kg °C [1]
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the conclusions that can be drawn from the data. [3]
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the mean specific heat capacity calculated in (a)(i) is higher than the actual value. [2]
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b)(ii) (4 marks): Write down two problems with this experiment and suggest how they could be solved. Use the diagram and results table to help you. Problem 1 Solution Problem 2 S
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6 (1 mark): A student wants to find out which heater produces the largest temperature rise. Look at the results she collects and the calculations she makes. Heater Starting
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q14 (1 mark): A wooden block has a mass of 2 kg and a specific heat capacity of 2000 J/kg °C. Calculate the energy needed to raise its temperature by 6 °C. Use the equation:
June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a) (6 marks): Two students design an experiment to find the specific latent heat of water. They set up their equipment as shown in the diagram. Heater Ice Funnel Beaker Water
June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(b) (3 marks): The students find that 250 g of ice takes 95 kJ of energy to change state. Calculate the specific latent heat. Answer = J/kg [3]

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