Question1: What happens if a hole is drilled at the top of a barometer

tube?
Ans:- When a hole is drilled at the top of a barometer tube, mercury in it
directly comes in contact with the atmosphere. Since the pressure
difference between the mercury in the tube and in the reservoir become
zero, the level falls down in the tube.

Question2: How does the presence of moisture affect the reading of the
barometer?
Ans: - Moist air is less dense than dry air. Hence the presence of moisture
decreases the atmospheric pressure. Decrease of pressure shows a fall in
the height of the mercury column in the barometer, which indicates
coming of rain and storm.

Question3: Why mercury is used in barometer?

Ans: Mercury is used in the barometer because of the following reasons.
It has a shining surface. High Density (So we can reduce the height of
the tube) Does not wet glass.

Question4: a) If a student places barometer in a lift, falling under gravity,

how the barometer reading will change?
b) If the same barometer is placed in a lift that is ascending with
acceleration ‘a’ how the barometer reading will change?

Ans

a) Barometer in a freely falling lift

1. When the lift falls freely, its downward acceleration equals g.
2. The effective gravity inside the lift becomes g_eff = g − g = 0.
3. Because effective gravity is zero, the mercury has no weight inside the lift.
4. Without weight, the mercury column cannot balance atmospheric pressure.
5. Therefore, the mercury level in the tube falls to the level of mercury in the reservoir.
Barometer reading becomes zero.

b) Barometer in a lift ascending with acceleration a

1. When the lift accelerates upward with acceleration a, the effective gravity increases.
2. The effective gravity inside the lift becomes g_eff = g + a.
3. Increased effective gravity increases the weight of the mercury column.
4. To balance atmospheric pressure, the height of the mercury column must increase.
Barometer reading increases above the normal value.

Question5: During windstorms, the roofs of certain houses are blown off without damaging
other part of the houses. Explain.
Ans:- During a windstorm, air flows very fast over the roof. According to Bernoulli’s principle, higher
speed air has lower pressure. The air inside the house is almost still, so its pressure remains higher.
This pressure difference creates an upward force on the roof, which can lift it off without causing
much damage to the walls.

Question6: Two pith balls are suspended from a rigid support using strings of equal length. What
happens if air is blown between the balls? What is the principle behind this?
Ans:- When air is blown between two suspended pith balls, they move toward each other because
the fast-moving air between them has lower pressure, and the higher pressure outside pushes them
inward; this happens due to Bernoulli’s principle.

Q7. Explain strokes law.

Ans:- Stokes’ law gives the viscous force acting on a small spherical object moving through a fluid.
It states that the viscous drag force is directly proportional to the radius of the sphere, the
velocity of the sphere, and the coefficient of viscosity of the fluid.

Q8. Explain terminal velocity.

Ans:-

Q9. State the difference between surface tension and surface energy.
Ans:-

Q10. What is the relation between surface tension and energy evolved?
Ans:- Energy evolved = Surface tension × Decrease in surface area

Q11. Explain elasticity.

Ans:- Elasticity is the ability of a material to return to its original shape and size after being
stretched, compressed, or bent. This occurs only when the applied force is within the elastic limit.
In this range, restoring forces develop inside the material, which bring it back to its original shape
and size after the force is removed.

Q12. Is stress a scalar or vector quantity?

Ans:- Stress is a tensor quantity. It is defined as the internal restoring force per unit area
developed inside a body when an external force tries to deform it. Since stress depends on direction
as well as the surface on which it acts, it is not a simple scalar or vector, but a tensor.
Q13. What are tensor quantities?
Ans:- Tensor quantities are physical quantities that need more than one direction to be completely
described. They cannot be explained fully by just a single number (scalar) or a single direction
(vector). They represent quantities that act in different directions on different planes inside a
body.
Example: Stress and strain.

Q14. What is the SI unit of stress?

Ans:- The SI unit of stress is pascal (Pa), which is equal to one newton per square metre (N/m²).

Q15. Define lateral strain.

Ans:- Lateral strain is the strain produced in a body in a direction perpendicular to the applied
force. It is equal to the change in lateral dimension divided by the original lateral dimension.

Q16. Define poisons ratio.

Ans:- Poisson’s ratio is the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain in a stretched material, within
the elastic limit.
Poisson’s ratio = Lateral strain / Longitudinal strain.

Q17. Define longitudinal strain and longitudinal stress.

Ans:- Longitudinal strain = Change in length / Original length.
Longitudinal stress = Applied force / Cross-sectional area.

Q18. Difference between stress and strain.

Ans:-

Q19. formulas for youngs modulus, bulk modulus, sheer modulus, poisons ratio and
compressibility.
Ans :-

Q20. State and explain hooks law of elasticity.

Ans:- Statement:
Within the elastic limit of a material, stress is directly proportional to strain.

Stress ∝ Strain
Mathematical form:

Stress = k × Strain
(where k is a constant called modulus of elasticity)
Explanation:
When a small force is applied to a body, it deforms. If the force is within the elastic limit, the
deformation (strain) increases in direct proportion to the applied stress. When the force is
removed, the body returns to its original shape and size.

Q21. What are elastomers? Give example.

Ans:- Elastomers are materials that can undergo large elastic deformation and return to their
original shape when the deforming force is removed. They have low Young’s modulus and
can be stretched much more than ordinary elastic materials.
Example: Rubber.

Q22. Define 3 types of stress. And write formula for each

Ans:-
Q23. Define 3 types of strain.
Ans:-

Q24. Define stress,strain and elastic limit

Ans:- Here are the NCERT definitions:
Stress:
Stress is the internal restoring force per unit area developed inside a body when an external
force is applied to deform it.
Strain:
Strain is the change in dimension (length, shape, or volume) divided by the original
dimension of the body due to applied stress.
Elastic Limit:
Elastic limit is the maximum value of stress up to which a material returns to its original
shape and size when the deforming force is removed.

Q25. Define Young's modulus of the material for a wire, give an expression for it, and
mention its SI unit.
Ans:- Young’s Modulus (Y) of a Material (for a wire)
Definition:
Young’s modulus is defined as the ratio of longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain within the
elastic limit of the material.
Expression:
Y = Longitudinal stress / Longitudinal strain
Y = (F / A) / (ΔL / L)
where
F = applied force
A = cross-sectional area of the wire
L = original length
ΔL = change in length
SI Unit:
pascal (Pa) or N/m²

Q26. arrive at an expression for Young's modulus in case of stretched string.

Ans:- Young’s modulus is the ratio of longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain:
Y = Stress / Strain
Y = (F/A) / (ΔL/L)
Y = (F/A) × (L/ΔL)
Y = FL / (A ΔL)

Q27. Mention three types of Moduli of Elasticity/ Define different types of strength and
strain modulus.
Ans:- Three Types of Moduli of Elasticity
1. Young’s Modulus (Y) – Relates longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain.
2. Bulk Modulus (K) – Relates volumetric stress (pressure) to volumetric strain.
3. Shear Modulus (G) – Relates shear stress to shear strain.

Q28. What do you mean by plasticity? And define Young's modulus for a material wire.
Ans:- Plasticity:
Plasticity is the property of a material by which it undergoes permanent deformation and does not
return to its original shape and size after the deforming force is removed.
Young’s Modulus (for a wire):
Young’s modulus is the ratio of longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain within the elastic
limit of the material.
Y = (F/A) / (ΔL/L)
SI unit: pascal (Pa).

Q29. Draw a typical stress-strain curve and label yield point, fracture point.
Ans:-
 Ans:-

Q30. What is elastic potential and obtain the expression for elastic potential energy.
Ans:- Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in a body when it is deformed (stretched or
compressed) within its elastic limit, and for a spring it is given by U = ½ kx².

Q31. Which physical quantity is conserved for an isothermal process?

Ans:- Temperature remains constant (is conserved) during an isothermal process.

Q32. State the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.

Ans:- If two systems are each in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are in
thermal equilibrium with each other.

Q33. What is the significance of Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics?

Ans:- It gives the basis of temperature measurement. If two bodies are in thermal equilibrium with
the same third body, they have the same temperature. This helps us use a thermometer to measure
temperature.

Q34. State the First Law of Thermodynamics.

Ans:-

Q35. Mention the significance of the First Law of Thermodynamics.

Ans:-
It expresses the law of conservation of energy for thermodynamic systems. It shows that
heat supplied to a system is used to increase its internal energy and to do work, but energy is
never lost.

Q36. What is Quasi-static process?

Ans:- A quasi-static process is a thermodynamic process that happens very slowly, so that the system
remains in thermal and mechanical equilibrium at every stage.

Q37. What is the equation of state for an adiabatic process?

Ans:-

Q38. Define efficiency of heat engine.

Ans:-
Q39. Mention the quantities remaining constant during isobaric and isochoric processes.
 Ans:- Isobaric process: Pressure remains constant.
 Isochoric process: Volume remains constant.

Q40. Mention an example for isothermal and adiabatic process each.

Ans:- Isothermal process: Slow expansion or compression of a gas in a cylinder kept in contact with a
heat reservoir, so temperature remains constant.
Adiabatic process: Rapid compression or expansion of a gas in a cylinder with insulated walls, so no
heat is exchanged with surroundings.

Q41. What are diathermic and adiabatic walls?

Ans:- Diathermic wall: A wall that allows heat to pass through it. Systems separated by a diathermic
wall can exchange heat.
Adiabatic wall: A wall that does not allow heat to pass through it. No heat exchange occurs between
systems separated by an adiabatic wall.

Q42. What are state variables? Give two examples.

Ans:- State variables are physical quantities that describe the state of a thermodynamic system and
depend only on its present condition, not on how it reached that state.
Examples: Pressure (P) and Volume (V).

Q43. Explain the parts of a heat engine.

Ans:- A heat engine has three main parts:
1. Source (Hot reservoir):
A body at high temperature that supplies heat energy Q H to the engine.
2. Working substance:
The material (gas or vapor) inside the engine that absorbs heat from the source, does
mechanical work, and rejects some heat.
3. Sink (Cold reservoir):
A body at low temperature that receives the unused heat Q C rejected by the engine.
The engine converts part of the absorbed heat into work, and the remaining heat is given to the sink.

Q44. What is the principle of heat engine? Sketch the diagrammatic representation of working of
heat engine.
Ans.
Principle:
A heat engine works on the conversion of heat energy into mechanical work while operating in a
cycle. It absorbs heat from a high-temperature source, converts a part of it into work, and rejects the
remaining heat to a low-temperature sink.
Diagram explanation (working):
 Heat Q H is taken from the hot reservoir.
 The working substance converts part of this heat into work (W).
 The remaining heat Q C is rejected to the cold reservoir (sink).
Thus, a heat engine always works between two reservoirs and cannot convert all heat into work.

Q45. Draw the schematic diagram of the refrigerator. Define its coefficient of performance (COP).
Ans:-
 Q46. Draw a schematic diagram of pressure versus volume for a Carnot cycle with an ideal gas as
working substance. Write an expression for efficiency of a Carnot engine.

Ans:-
The Carnot cycle consists of four reversible processes shown on a pressure–volume diagram. First,
the gas undergoes isothermal expansion at temperature T H and absorbs heat from the hot reservoir.
Next, it expands adiabatically, during which its temperature falls from T H to T C. Then the gas is
isothermally compressed at temperature T Cand releases heat to the cold reservoir. Finally, it is
adiabatically compressed, which raises its temperature back to T H and completes the cycle.
The efficiency of a Carnot engine is given by
TC
η=1−
TH
where T H and T Care the absolute temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs respectively.

Q47. What is an isothermal process? Derive the expression for work done in an isothermal process.
Ans:- An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process in which the temperature remains
constant throughout the process.
For an ideal gas,
PV =nRT
Since temperature T is constant,
nRT
P=
V
Work done during a small change in volume dV is
dW =P dV
Substituting P :
nRT
dW = dV
V
Total work done when volume changes from V 1to V 2:

V2 V2
nRT dV
W =∫ dV W =nRT ∫
V
V
1 V
V 1

W =nRT ln ⁡
( ) V2
V1
Using PV =constant , this can also be written as

W =nRT ln ⁡
( ) P1
P2
Thus, work done in an isothermal process depends on the initial and final volumes (or pressures)
while temperature remains constant.

Q48. Explain different stages of Carnot’s cycle with P–V diagram.

Ans. Carnot’s cycle consists of four reversible processes performed by an ideal gas.
1. Isothermal Expansion (A → B) at temperature T H
The gas is allowed to expand slowly while in contact with a hot reservoir at temperature T H . It
absorbs heat Q H and does work. Temperature remains constant.
2. Adiabatic Expansion (B → C)
The gas is now insulated and continues to expand without any heat exchange. Its temperature falls
from T H to T C.
3. Isothermal Compression (C → D) at temperature T C
The gas is compressed slowly while in contact with a cold reservoir at temperature T C. It releases
heat Q C to the sink while temperature remains constant.
4. Adiabatic Compression (D → A)
The gas is again insulated and compressed without heat exchange. Its temperature rises from T Cback
to T H , returning to the initial state and completing the cycle.
These four processes form a closed loop on the P–V diagram and represent the most efficient heat
engine cycle possible.

Q47. Discuss the applications of the First Law of Thermodynamics.

Ans:- The First Law of Thermodynamics is a statement of conservation of energy and is applied to
different thermodynamic processes:
1. Isothermal Process ( Δ T =0)
Since temperature is constant, the change in internal energy is zero ( Δ U =0 ).
Q=W
Heat supplied to the system is completely converted into work done by the gas.
2. Adiabatic Process (Q=0)
No heat is exchanged with surroundings.
Δ U =−W
Work done by the system results in a decrease in internal energy (temperature falls during
expansion).
3. Isochoric Process (Constant Volume, W =0)
No work is done because volume does not change.
Q= Δ U
Heat supplied only changes the internal energy (temperature rises).
4. Isobaric Process (Constant Pressure)
Both heat transfer and work occur.
Q= Δ U + P Δ V
Heat supplied increases internal energy and also does work in expanding the gas.
Thus, the First Law helps us calculate heat, work, and internal energy changes in different
thermodynamic processes.

Q49. difference betw isobaric, isothermal and isochoric in tabular form.

Ans:-
Q50. Define entropy, enthalpy, adiabatic process, adiabatic compression and adiabatic expansion in
physics thermodynamics.

Ans:-
Entropy: Entropy is a thermodynamic quantity that measures the degree of disorder or randomness
of a system.
Enthalpy: Enthalpy is the total heat content of a system and is equal to the sum of its internal energy
and the product of pressure and volume (H = U + PV).
Adiabatic process: An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process in which no heat is exchanged
between the system and surroundings.
Adiabatic compression: Adiabatic compression is an adiabatic process in which the volume of a gas
decreases, causing its temperature and pressure to increase.
Adiabatic expansion: Adiabatic expansion is an adiabatic process in which the volume of a gas
increases, causing its temperature and pressure to decrease.

Q51. Why is the Carnot cycle considered the most efficient heat engine cycle?
Ans:- It is an ideal (perfect) engine, All processes are reversible and Heat source and heat sink have
infinite thermal capacity

Q52. State Charles law.

Ans:- Answer (1):
Charles’ Law: At constant pressure, the volume of a given mass of gas is directly proportional to its
absolute temperature.

V ∝ T (at constant pressure)

Mathematically:

V/T = constant
V₁/T₁ = V₂/T₂

Q52. Mention the principle of calorimetry.

Ans:-
Principle of Calorimetry: When two bodies at different temperatures are brought into thermal
contact in an isolated system, the heat lost by the hotter body is equal to the heat gained by the
colder body until thermal equilibrium is reached.

Q53. What is greenhouse effect?

Ans:- The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap
heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thereby warming the Earth’s surface.

Q54. What is anomalous expansion of water?

Ans:- The anomalous expansion of water is the property by which water expands when cooled from
4°C to 0°C instead of contracting, and it has maximum density at 4°C.

Q55. what is regelation

Ans:- Regelation is the phenomenon in which ice melts under pressure and refreezes when the
pressure is removed.
Example: A thin wire with weights attached can pass through a block of ice without cutting it into
two pieces because the ice melts under the wire (high pressure) and refreezes after the wire passes.

Q56. What is an ideal gas?

Ans:- An ideal gas is a hypothetical gas whose molecules have negligible volume, no intermolecular
forces, and which obeys the gas laws exactly at all temperatures and pressures.

Q57. Example for green house gas

Ans:- Examples of greenhouse gases:
 Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
 Methane (CH₄)
 Water vapour (H₂O)
 Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
 Ozone (O₃)
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Q58. State and explain newtons law of cooling.

Ans:- Newton’s law of cooling states that the rate of decrease of temperature of a body is directly
proportional to the difference between its temperature and the temperature of the surroundings, for
small temperature differences.
dT
∝(T −T s)
dt
or
dT
=−k (T −T s )
dt
where T is the temperature of the body, T sis the temperature of the surroundings, and k is a
constant.

Q59. Show PV=RT for an ideal gas

Ans:- Boyle’s Law (at constant temperature):
1
P∝
V
Charles’ Law (at constant pressure):
V ∝T
Gay-Lussac’s Law (at constant volume):
P ∝T
Combining these proportionalities,
T
V∝ PV ∝ T
P
Replacing proportionality with equality, we introduce a constant R (gas constant):
PV =RT
This is the equation of state of an ideal gas for one mole of gas.
For n moles:
PV =nRT
Q59. Plot a graph of temperature versus time showing the changes in the states of ice on heating at
one atmospheric pressure. Indicate how much energy is absorbed in the two changes of state.
Ans:-

Q60. Mention the modes of heat transfer.

Ans:- The three modes of heat transfer are:
1. Conduction – Transfer of heat through a material without movement of the material as a
whole.
2. Convection – Transfer of heat by the actual movement of fluid (liquids or gases).
3. Radiation – Transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves without requiring any
material medium.

Q61. Define 3 types of thermal expansion.

Ans:-
 Linear expansion: Increase in the length of a solid when its temperature is increased.
 Superficial (area) expansion: Increase in the surface area of a solid when its temperature is
increased.
 Cubical (volume) expansion: Increase in the volume of a solid, liquid, or gas when its temperature
is increased.

Q62. Write any 3 properties of heat radiation.

Ans:-
1. Ans: - Heat radiation does not require a material medium and can travel through vacuum.
2. Heat radiation travels in straight lines with the speed of light.
3. Heat radiation obeys the laws of reflection and refraction similar to light waves.

Q63. Explain thermal conduction and hence define coefficient of thermal conductivity.
Ans:- Thermal conduction: Thermal conduction is the process of transfer of heat from the hotter end
to the colder end of a body without any actual movement of its particles.
Coefficient of thermal conductivity: The coefficient of thermal conductivity is the amount of heat
conducted per second through a material of unit area and unit thickness when the temperature
difference between its faces is 1 K.

Q64. State Stefan’s law and draw the intensity distribution graph of black body radiation.
Ans:- Stefan’s law: Stefan’s law states that the total radiant energy emitted per unit area per second
by a perfectly black body is directly proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature
( E=σ T 4 ).
Intensity distribution of black body radiation: The intensity distribution graph of black body
radiation shows that intensity increases with wavelength, reaches a maximum value, and then
decreases, with the peak shifting toward shorter wavelengths as temperature increases.

Q65. Define specific heat of a gas at constant pressure and at constant volume. Give the relation
between them. Define latent heat of fusion and vaporisation.
Ans:- Specific heat at constant volume is the heat needed to raise the temperature of unit mass of a
gas by 1 K at constant volume.
Specific heat at constant pressure is the heat needed to raise the temperature of unit mass of a gas
by 1 K at constant pressure.
For an ideal gas, (C_p - C_v = R).
Latent heat of fusion is the heat required to change unit mass of a solid into liquid at its melting point
without temperature change.
Latent heat of vaporisation is the heat required to change unit mass of a liquid into vapour at its
boiling point without temperature change.

Q66. State and explain the law of thermal conductivity. Define coefficient of thermal conductivity.
Mention its unit and dimension.
Ans:- Law of thermal conductivity:
It states that the rate of heat flow through a conductor is directly proportional to the area of cross-
section and temperature difference, and inversely proportional to the length of the conductor.
kA (T 1−T 2) t
Q=
L
Coefficient of thermal conductivity (k):
It is the amount of heat conducted per second through a material of unit area and unit thickness
when the temperature difference between its faces is 1 K.
SI unit: W m⁻¹ K⁻¹
Dimensional formula:
[ M 1 L1 T −3 Θ−1 ]Q [Link] a note on Kelvin scale of temperature.
Ans:- The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale in which the zero point (0 K) represents
absolute zero, the temperature at which molecular motion is minimum. Each degree on the Kelvin
scale is equal in size to one degree Celsius, and the relation between the two scales is
∘
T ( K )=t (¿ C )+ 273¿
The Kelvin scale does not use negative temperatures and is used in scientific work.

Q68. State keplers three laws of planetary motion.

Ans:- Kepler’s First Law: Planets move around the Sun in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.
Kepler’s Second Law: The line joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals
of time, so a planet moves faster when closer to the Sun and slower when farther away.
Kepler’s Third Law: The square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-
major axis of its orbit.

Q69. State universal law of gravitation.

Ans. Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly
proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance
between their centres, and the force acts along the line joining their centres.

Q70. Define centre of mass and rigid body.

Ans. The centre of mass of a system of particles is the point where the entire mass of the system
may be assumed to be concentrated for the purpose of studying its motion. A rigid body is an ideal
body in which the distance between any two particles remains constant, even when forces are
applied.

Q71. What is torque? Explain.

Ans:- Torque is the turning effect of a force about a fixed point or axis. It measures the tendency of a
force to produce rotation.
Q72. Why is it easier to open a door by applying force at the handle than near the hinges?
Ans:- Torque depends on perpendicular dist. From axis of rotation

Q73. Define moment of inertia (I) and its SI unit and dimensional formula.
Ans:- The moment of inertia of a body about a given axis is the sum of the products of each particle’s
mass and the square of its perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation.
SI Unit
2
kg m Dimensional Formula
[ M 1 L2 T 0 ]State parallel axis theorem.
Ans:- The moment of inertia of a body about any axis is equal to the moment of inertia about a
parallel axis passing through its centre of mass plus the product of the mass of the body and the
square of the perpendicular distance between the two axes.
2
I =I c o m+ M d

Q75. Define radius of gyration. Obtain its relation with moment of inertia.

Ans:- The radius of gyration of a body about a given axis is the distance from the axis at which the
entire mass of the body can be assumed to be concentrated so that its moment of inertia remains
the same.

It is denoted by k .

Relation with Moment of Inertia

Moment of inertia of a body:

2
I =∑ m r
If the whole mass M were concentrated at distance k from the axis, then
2
I =M k

Final Relation

k=
√ I
M
Thus, radius of gyration is the square root of moment of inertia per unit mass.

Q75. Radius of gyration depends on factors.

Ans:- Distribution of mass of the body about the axis of rotation
• Shape and size of the body
• Position and orientation of the axis of rotation

Q76.