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2 (a) Which statement describes conservation of energy in a closed system? B when there are energy transfers, the total energy does not change (b) A student uses the apparatus in Figure 3 to find out which of two materials, sand or sawdust, is the better insulator - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 2
2 (a) Which statement describes conservation of energy in a closed system? B when there are energy transfers, the total energy does not change (b) A student uses t... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:2 (a) Which statement describes conservation of energy in a closed system? B when there are energy transfers, the total energy does not change (b) A student uses the apparatus in Figure 3 to find out which of two materials, sand or sawdust, is the better insulator - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
(i) Draw a labelled diagram to show how the student should set up the equipment to investigate which material is the better insulator.
Answer
The diagram should include:
- A large copper can, which is heated with hot water.
- A small copper can placed inside the large one.
- Insulation material (either sand or sawdust) surrounding the small copper can.
- A thermometer placed in the water of the large copper can to measure the temperature.
The arrangement should clearly show these components with labels for easy identification.
Step 3
(ii) Give three factors that the student must control in this investigation.
Answer
- The initial temperature of the water in the large copper can must be the same for both tests.
- The volume of water used in the large copper can should remain constant.
- The duration of the experiment should be the same for both insulation materials to ensure a fair comparison.
Step 4
(c) Using the graph in Figure 4, describe how the thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene changes with the density of expanded polystyrene.
Answer
From the graph in Figure 4, it is shown that as the density of expanded polystyrene increases, the thermal conductivity decreases. This inverse relationship indicates that denser polystyrene is a better insulator, as it has lower thermal conductivity values.