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1. MCQs
i) The degree of hotness or coldness of an object is called its:
a) Heat
b) Temperature
c) Energy
d) Thermometer
Ans: b) Temperature
ii) Which device is used to measure temperature?
a) Berometer
b) Ammeter
c) Thermometer
d) Voltmeter
Ans: c) Thermometer
iii) The normal temperature of the human body is :
a) 35°C
b) 42°C
c) 37°C
d) 100°C
Ans: c) 37°C
iv) A clinical thermometer has a temperature range of :
a) 0°C to 100°C
b) 35°C to 42°C
c) -10°c to 110°C
d) 10°C to 40°C
Ans: b) 35°C to 42°C
v) A laboratory thermometer has a temperature range of:
a) 35°C to 42°C
b) 0°C to 100°C
c) -10°C to 110°C
d) 94°F to 108°F
Ans: c) -10°C to 110°C
vi) Which of the following is a poor conductor of heat?
a) Aluminium
b) Copper
c) Wool
d) Iron
Ans: c) Wool
vii) Which of the following is a good conductor of heat?
a) Wood
b) Plastic
c) Copper
d) Air
Ans: c) Copper
viii) A kink in a clinical thermometer is used to :
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a) Help in the flow of mercury
b) Prevent mercury from falling down
c) Decrease the body temperature
d) None of these
Ans: b) Prevent mercury from falling down
ix) The process by which heat flows from the hotter end to the colder end of an object
is called:
a) Convection
b) Radiation
c) Conduction
d) Absorption
Ans: c) Conduction
x) What is the process of heat transfer that does not require any medium?
a) Conduction
b) Convection
c) Radiation
d) Reflection
Ans: c) Radiation
xi) Which type of clothes should we prefer to wear in summer?
a) Dark-coloured clothes
b) Thick clothes
c) Light-coloured clothes
d) Woollen clothes
Ans: c) Light-coloured clothes
xii) Why is it advised to paint the outer walls of houses white in hot climates?
a) White surfaces absorb more heat
b) White surfaces reflect more heat
c) White paint is cheaper
d) White paint makes houses look bigger
Ans: b) White surfaces reflect more heat
xiii) In coastal areas, a land breeze blows during the:
a) Day
b) Night
c) Both day and night
d) None of these
Ans: b) Night
xiv) When you hold an ice cube, heat from your hand transfers to the ice cube. What is this
sensation called?
a) Cold
b) Hot
c) Conduction
d) Freezing
Ans: a) Cold
xv) One litre of water at 30°C is mixed with one litre of water at 50°C. The temperature of the
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mixture will be:
a) 80°C
b) More than 50°C
c) Less than 30°C
d) Between 30°C to 50°C
Ans: d) Between 30°C to 50°C
xvi) What prevents the mercury level from falling in a clinical thermometer when it is removed
from the mouth?
a) The bulb
b) The glass tube
c) The kink
d) The scale
Ans: c) The kink
xvii) Why do we prefer to wear light-coloured clothes in summer?
a) They are easy to wash.
b) They absorb less heat.
c) They are thicker than dark clothes.
d) They look brighter.
Ans: d) They look brighter.
xviii) What happens to the water at the bottom of a flask when heated from below?
a) It cools down.
b) It evaporates.
c) It rises.
d) It condenses.
Ans: c) It rises.
xix) Heat energy flows from:
a) Cold body to hot body.
b) Hot body to cold body.
c) Both directions.
d) Neither direction.
Ans: b) Hot body to cold body.
xx) Why are copper-bottomed pans often used for cooking?
a) Copper is cheaper than other metals.
b) Copper is a better conductor of heat.
c) Copper is more durable.
d) Copper is easier to clean.
Ans: b) Copper is a better conductor of heat.
xxi) A wooden spoon dipped in a cup of hot ice cream is an example of an:
a) Conductor
b) Insulator
c) Absorber
d) Reflector
Ans: b) Insulator
xxii) Why is a multi-layered blanket warmer than a single thick blanket?
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a) Because multi-layered blankets are heavier.
b) Because multi-layered blankets are more colourful.
c) Because air gets trapped between the layers, which is a poor conductor of heat.
d) Because the multiple layers radiate more heat.
Ans: c) Because air gets trapped between the layers, which is a poor conductor of heat.
xxiii) Heat from the sun reaches the earth mainly through the process of:
a) Conduction
b) Convection
c) Radiation
d) Insulation
Ans: c) Radiation
xxiv) When a substance is heated, its temperature:
a) Decreases
b) Reamains the same
c) Increases
d) Evaporates
Ans: c) Increases
xxv) The process by which heat is transferred in a liquid or gas is called:
a) Conduction
b) Convection
c) Radiation
d) Evaporation
Ans: b) Convection
xxvi) Which type of thermometer is used to measure the temperature of boiling water?
a) Clinical thermometer
b) Digital thermometer
c) Laboratory thermometer
d) Minimum-maximum thermometer
Ans: c) Laboratory thermometer
2. Fill in the blanks
a) The hotness or coldness of an object is measured by its ______.
Ans: Temperature
b) Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit, or ______.
Ans: Kelvin
c) A ______ thermometer cannot be used to measure the temperature of boiling water.
Ans:Clinical
d) Heat is transferred from a hotter object to a ______ object.
Ans: Colder
e) The transfer of heat through a solid by direct contact is called ______.
Ans: Conduction
f) In a ______ environment, heat transfer happens by convection and radiation.
Ans: Fluid
g) ______ clothes absorb more heat than light-colored clothes.
Ans: Dark-colored
h) The transfer of heat through a vacuum is called ______.
Ans: Radiation
i) We use ______ clothes in the summer to stay cool.
Ans: Light-colored
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j) The ______ scale is the standard unit for measuring temperature in India.
Ans: Celsius
k) _______ blows during the night.
Ans: Land breeze
l) _____ blows during the day.
Ans: Sea breeze
3. True or False
a) Woolen clothes keep us warm during winter because wool is a poor conductor of heat.
Ans: True.
b) Heat cannot be transferred by radiation in a vacuum.
Ans: False
c) A clinical thermometer can be used to measure the temperature of boiling water.
Ans: False
d) Dark-coloured clothes absorb more heat than light-coloured clothes.
Ans: True.
e) The flow of heat from a hotter object to a colder object is called conduction.
Ans: True.
f) Heat always flows from a colder object to a hotter object.
Ans: False
g) The normal temperature of the human body is 37°C.
Ans: True.
h) A clinical thermometer can be used to measure the temperature of boiling water.
Ans: False
i) A laboratory thermometer has a kink.
Ans: False
j) In liquids and gases, heat is transferred by convection.
Ans: True.
k) Materials that allow heat to pass easily are called insulators.
Ans: False
l) Woollen clothes keep us warm because wool is a good conductor.
Ans: False
m) Dark-coloured clothes absorb more heat than light colours.
Ans: True.
n) No medium is required for radiation.
Ans: True.
o) A land breeze blows during the day.
Ans: False
p) A sea breeze blows during the night.
Ans: False. Sea breeze occurs during the day.
q) Hotness is determined by temperature.
Ans: True.
r) Sense of touch is a reliable guide.
Ans: False
s) The SI unit of heat is Joule.
Ans: True.
t) Thermometers with Celsius and Fahrenheit scales measure temperature.
Ans: True.
u) A thermos flask's shiny surface minimizes heat loss by radiation.
Ans: True.
v) Heat transfer in solids is conduction.
Ans: True.
w) Wood is a good conductor.
Ans: False
x) Air is a poor conductor of heat.
Ans: True.
y) Decrease in size on cooling is expansion.
Ans: False
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4. Short Question Answer
a) What is temperature?
Ans: Temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness of an object.
b) What is a thermometer?
Ans: A thermometer is a device used to measure the temperature of an object.
c) Name the two common types of thermometers.
Ans: The two common types are the clinical thermometer and the laboratory
thermometer.
d) What is a clinical thermometer used for?
Ans: A clinical thermometer is used to measure a human body's temperature.
e) Why can't a clinical thermometer be used to measure the temperature of boiling water?
Ans: A clinical thermometer cannot measure the temperature of boiling water because it has a
lower temperature range, and the high temperature would cause it to break.
f) What is the normal human body temperature?
Ans: The average normal human body temperature is about 37°C
g) Why is a kink present in a clinical thermometer?
Ans: A kink prevents the mercury level from falling on its own, allowing a person to read the body
temperature accurately.
h) What is a laboratory thermometer used for?
Ans: A laboratory thermometer is used to measure temperatures in laboratories for scientific
experiments.
i) What is the range of a laboratory thermometer?
Ans: The range of a laboratory thermometer is typically from -10°C to 110°C
j) Name the three modes of heat transfer.
Ans: The three modes of heat transfer are conduction, convection, and radiation.
k) What is conduction?
Ans: Conduction is the transfer of heat in solids, where heat is passed from a hotter end to a colder
end without the actual movement of particles.
l) What are good conductors of heat?
Ans: Materials that allow heat to pass through them easily are called good conductors. Examples
include metals like copper and aluminum.
m) What are poor conductors or insulators?
Ans: Materials that do not allow heat to pass through them easily are called poor conductors or
insulators. Examples include wood, plastic, and air.
n) What is convection?
Ans: Convection is the transfer of heat in fluids (liquids and gases), where heated particles move
away and are replaced by cooler, denser particles.
o) Explain sea breeze.
Ans: During the day, the land heats up faster than the sea. The hot air over the land rises, and cooler
air from the sea moves in to take its place. This movement of air is called sea breeze.
p) Explain land breeze.
Ans: During the night, the land cools down faster than the sea. The cooler air from the land moves
towards the sea, and this movement is called land breeze.
q) What is radiation?
Ans: Radiation is the transfer of heat that does not require any medium. It can occur
even in a vacuum. The sun's heat reaches us through radiation.
r) Why is it more comfortable to wear light-colored clothes in the summer?
Ans: Light-colored clothes absorb less heat from the sun and reflect most of the heat,
which keeps us cool.
s) Why is it better to wear dark-colored clothes in the winter?
Ans: Dark-colored clothes absorb more heat from the sun, keeping us warm during the
winter.
t) How does a thermos flask keep liquids hot or cold for a long time?
Ans: A thermos flask minimizes heat transfer through conduction, convection, and
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radiation. The vacuum between its two walls prevents heat transfer by conduction and
convection, and the silvered walls reduce heat transfer by radiation.
5. Long Answer Question
a) Explain the different modes of heat transfer with suitable examples.
Ans: There are three ways in which heat can be transferred from a hot object to a cold object:
• Conduction: This is the transfer of heat in solids. The particles of a substance at the hot end
vibrate and transfer heat to the neighboring particles without actually moving from their
position. The transfer of heat continues until the entire object is heated.
o Example: When you heat one end of a metal spoon, the other end also gets hot after
some time.
• Convection: This is the transfer of heat in fluids (liquids and gases). The particles of the fluid
at the hotter region become less dense and rise up. The cooler, denser fluid from the
surrounding area moves in to take its place. This creates a current that transfers heat
throughout the fluid.
o Example: When you boil water in a pot, the water at the bottom heats up, rises, and is
replaced by cooler water from the top.
• Radiation: This is the transfer of heat that does not require any medium. It occurs through
electromagnetic waves. All hot objects radiate heat.
o Example: The heat from the sun reaches the Earth through radiation, and the heat
you feel when sitting near a bonfire is also due to radiation.
o
b) Defferentiate between a clinical and a laboratory thermometer.
Ans: Clinical and laboratory thermometers differ in their design, temperature range, and use.
Feature Clinical Thermometer Laboratory Thermometer
Purpose Measures human body temperature. Measures temperature in laboratories
for scientific experiments.
Temperature A narrow range, typically from 35°C to 42°C, A wide range, usually from -10°C to
Range since the human body's temperature does not fall 110°C, to measure a variety of objects
or rise beyond this. and substances.
Constriction Has a kink near the bulb that prevents the Does not have a kink, so the mercury
(Kink) mercury level from falling on its own, allowing level falls as soon as it is removed from
time for the reading to be taken. the hot object.
Holding Can be removed from the patient's mouth to read Must be held upright and the
Method the temperature due to the kink. temperature read while the bulb is still
in the substance.
c) Explain the formation of sea and land breezes in coastal areas.
Ans: Sea and land breezes are local winds caused by the difference in the rate of heating and cooling
of land and water.
• Sea Breeze (during the day): During the day, land heats up faster than the sea. The air over
the land gets warmer, becomes less dense, and rises. The cooler, denser air from the sea,
which is a high-pressure area, moves towards the land to take its place, creating a sea
breeze.
• Land Breeze (during the night): After sunset, the land cools down faster than the sea. The air
over the sea remains warmer and rises. The cooler, denser air from the land, which is a high-
pressure area, moves towards the sea, creating a land breeze.
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d) Why is it advised to paint the outer walls of houses white in places with a hot climate?
Ans: In hot climates, it is advised to paint the outer walls of houses white because white surfaces are
good reflectors of heat and poor absorbers of it. The white paint reflects most of the sun's heat that
falls on the walls, preventing the inside of the house from getting too warm. Dark-colored surfaces, on
the other hand, absorb more heat, which would cause the house to get hotter.
e) why wearing more layers of clothing during winter keeps us warmer than wearing just one thick
piece of clothing.
Ans: Wearing multiple layers of clothing in winter keeps us warmer because air gets trapped between
the layers. Air is a very poor conductor of heat (an insulator), so the trapped air acts as an insulating
layer. This layer prevents our body heat from escaping into the cold surroundings. A single thick piece
of clothing traps less air compared to several thin layers, making the multiple layers a more effective
barrier against heat loss.
f) What are conductors and insulators? Give two examples of each.
Ans:
Conductors: These are materials that allow heat to pass through them easily. They have a high
number of free electrons that can move and transfer thermal energy from one part of the material to
another.
• Examples: Iron, copper, and aluminum.
Insulators: These are materials that do not allow heat to pass through them easily. The
electrons in insulators are tightly bound to the atoms, making it difficult for thermal energy to
be transferred.
• Examples: Wood, plastic, and air.
g) Why do stainless steel pans often have copper bottoms? Explain the scientific principle involved.
Ans: Stainless steel pans are often fitted with copper bottoms because copper is a much better
conductor of heat than stainless steel. When the pan is placed on a flame, the copper bottom quickly
absorbs and conducts heat, spreading it uniformly to the entire base of the pan. This allows the food
to be cooked faster and more evenly. The stainless steel body provides durability and resistance to
corrosion.
h) Explain how the process of convection is used in a room heater to warm a room.
Ans: A room heater warms a room through the process of convection. When the heater is switched
on, the air directly in front of and above it gets heated. This hot air becomes less dense and rises
towards the ceiling. The cooler, denser air from other parts of the room then moves towards the
heater to take its place. This cooler air is then heated by the heater, rises, and is replaced by more
cool air. This cycle creates a convection current that circulates the warm air, gradually heating the
entire room.
i) Describe the precautions you must take when using a laboratory thermometer.
Ans: When using a laboratory thermometer, you must take the following precautions to ensure an
accurate reading:
• Hold the thermometer vertically and not tilted.
• Ensure that the bulb is completely surrounded by the substance you are measuring.
• The bulb should not touch the surface of the container (bottom or sides).
• Read the temperature while the bulb is still in the substance, keeping your eye level with the
mercury or alcohol column.
• Do not use it to measure human body temperature.
j) How is heat transferred by radiation? Give two daily life examples of how we experience heat
transfer by radiation.
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Ans: Heat transfer by radiation occurs through electromagnetic waves and does not require any
medium to travel. Unlike conduction and convection, which require solids or fluids, radiation can occur
in a vacuum. Any object that is at a temperature above absolute zero (0 K) radiates heat. The amount
of heat radiated depends on the object's temperature and the nature of its surface.
Here are two daily life examples of radiation:
• Feeling warmth from a bonfire: When you sit near a bonfire, you feel its warmth even without
touching the flames or the hot air rising from it. The fire radiates heat in all directions, and this
heat travels through the air to warm you.
• Warming of the Earth by the Sun: The sun's heat travels through the vacuum of space to
reach the Earth. This is a perfect example of radiation, as there is no medium between the
sun and the Earth to transfer heat through conduction or convection.
k) What is a land breeze, and how does it form?
Ans: A land breeze is the breeze that blows from the land towards the sea at night. After sunset, the
land cools down faster than the sea. The cooler, denser air over the land sinks, creating a high-
pressure zone, while the warmer, less dense air over the sea rises. The cool air from the land then
moves out over the sea to replace the rising warm air, creating the land breeze.
l) Explain the difference between conduction and convection.
Ans:
Conduction: Heat is transferred through direct contact between particles in a solid.
Convection: Heat is transferred by the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) themselves, as they
move from a warmer to a cooler area.
m) Why is a wooden spoon preferred over a metal spoon for stirring hot food?
Ans: Wood is a poor conductor of heat (an insulator), so it does not transfer heat quickly. This means
the handle of a wooden spoon stays cool for a longer time, making it safe to handle while stirring hot
food. Metal, being a good conductor, would transfer heat to the handle of the spoon much faster,
making it too hot to touch.
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