What this topic covers

Ideal gases is topic 15 of the Cambridge 9702 syllabus (2025–2027), covering the mole, the equation of state and the kinetic theory of gases. It is A Level content, examined in Paper 4 (A Level Structured Questions), which carries 38.5% of the A Level. The ideas students find hardest are using pV = nRT and pV = NkT with consistent SI units (temperatures in kelvin, volumes in m³), stating the basic assumptions of kinetic theory precisely, and following the derivation of pV = ⅓Nm⟨c²⟩. Linking mean translational kinetic energy to thermodynamic temperature, and calculating root-mean-square speeds, also require care. These past-paper questions move from straightforward substitution to the explanations and derivations that distinguish the highest grades.

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Questions in this topic

• 9702/41/O/N/24 Q3 — ideal gases and thermodynamics · 8 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/24 Q4 — kinetic theory of gases · 9 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/24 Q3 — ideal gases and thermodynamics · 8 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/24 Q2 — thermal equilibrium and ideal gases · 10 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/24 Q3 — ideal gases and kinetic theory · 12 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/23 Q3 — ideal gas and star properties · 13 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/23 Q2 — gravitational potential and ideal gases · 12 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/23 Q3 — ideal gases and kinetic theory · 13 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/23 Q4 — kinetic theory of gases · 12 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/23 Q2 — ideal gases and temperature · 12 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/23 Q3 — First law of thermodynamics · 9 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/23 Q4 — kinetic theory of gases · 12 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/23 Q2 — ideal gases and thermodynamics · 12 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/22 Q2 — thermodynamics and temperature · 10 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/22 Q3 — Ideal gases and kinetic theory · 10 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/22 Q3 — ideal gas processes · 11 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/22 Q3 — specific latent heat of vaporisation · 12 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/22 Q3 — ideal gas processes · 11 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/22 Q2 — ideal gas cycle and thermodynamics · 10 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/21 Q3 — specific heat capacity and kinetic theory · 13 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/21 Q3 — kinetic theory of gases · 11 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/21 Q3 — specific heat capacity and kinetic theory · 13 marks
• 9702/41/M/J/21 Q2 — ideal gas and kinetic theory · 10 marks
• 9702/42/M/J/21 Q2 — ideal gas expansion · 9 marks
• 9702/43/M/J/21 Q2 — ideal gas and kinetic theory · 10 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/21 Q2 — ideal gas calculations · 6 marks
• 9702/42/F/M/21 Q3 — kinetic theory and latent heat · 8 marks
• 9702/41/O/N/20 Q2 — First law of thermodynamics · 9 marks
• 9702/42/O/N/20 Q2 — internal energy and ideal gases · 10 marks
• 9702/43/O/N/20 Q2 — First law of thermodynamics · 9 marks

Showing the 30 most recent of 49. The PDF includes all of them.

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