Heat and Thermodynamics Basics

Understand temperature, heat transfer and state change without confusion.

Level

Core

Study Time

18 min

Exam Relevance

Medium to high

Core concepts

Difference between heat and temperature.
Specific heat capacity and latent heat.
Conduction, convection and radiation.
Expansion due to heat and practical effects.

Exam tips

Convert all temperatures to required scale carefully.
In calorimetry, set heat lost = heat gained.
Identify whether latent heat applies (state change).

Common mistakes

Mixing Celsius and Kelvin conversion.
Forgetting units in calorimetry constants.

Chapter-end mini quiz

5 quick questions from the question bank.

Question 1

Numerically two thermometers, one in Fahrenheit scale and another in Celsius scale shall read same at

-40 degrees0 degrees-273 degrees100 degrees

Question 2

At normal atmospheric pressure, water boils at

$100^\circ$C$212^\circ$C$50^\circ$C$0^\circ$C

Question 3

Water is heated with a coil of resistance R connected to domestic supply. The rise of temperature of water will depend on\\ 1. Supply voltage.\\ 2. Current passing through the coil.\\ 3. Time for which voltage is supplied.\\ Select the correct answer from among the following:

1, 2 and 31 and 2 only1 only2 and 3 only

Question 4

What is the mass of a material, whose specific heat capacity is 400 J/(kg $^\circ$C) for a rise in temperature from 15 $^\circ$C to 25 $^\circ$C, when heat received is 20 kJ?

0.1 kg1 kg10 kg5 kg

Question 5

In which of the following phenomena do heat waves travel along a straight line with the speed of light?

Thermal conductionThermal convectionThermal radiationBoth, thermal conduction and radiation

Source Base

NCERT thermal properties and calorimetry basics
CBSE chapter exercises on heat transfer modes

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