Thermal Properties of Matter — Class 11 MCQs with Answers
Class 11 CBSE Physics · Chapter 11
66 practice questions · 22 Easy · 22 Medium · 22 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 11 CBSE Physics questions from Chapter 11, "Thermal Properties of Matter". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 66 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 22 Easy, 22 Medium and 22 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that set top scorers in CBSE & Maharashtra HSC Board exams, JEE Main, MHT-CET, JEE Advanced and NEET UG apart.
To score well in "Thermal Properties of Matter", focus on numericals, derivations and applying concepts. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This trains you to stay accurate under time pressure, as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Thermal Properties of Matter, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 11 Physics mastery score. 13 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Key concepts: Thermal Properties of Matter (Class 11 Physics)
Heat as energy in transit and its effects: temperature scales, linear, areal and volumetric expansion, specific and latent heat, the calorimetry principle for mixtures, and the three modes of heat transfer with the laws that govern conduction, Stefan-Boltzmann radiation and Newton's cooling.
- Heat and temperature
- Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of molecules and decides the direction of heat flow; heat is the energy actually in transit because of a temperature difference.
- Temperature scales
- Celsius, Fahrenheit and the absolute Kelvin scale. A change of one kelvin equals a change of one degree Celsius, so the two agree on differences but not on values.
- Absolute zero
- 0 K, the temperature at which molecular motion is minimum. It is the natural zero of the Kelvin scale and cannot be reached in practice.
- Linear expansion
- A solid rod lengthens in proportion to its original length and the temperature rise, the constant being the coefficient of linear expansion α.
Thermal Properties of Matter — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 11 Physics)
13 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 53 are timed and scored when you sign in.
- Q1Easy
0°C in Kelvin:
A.0 KB.273.15 K✓ CorrectC.100 KD.−273 KAnswer: B. 273.15 K
Explanation: Kelvin scale: K = °C + 273.15, so 0°C = 273.15 K exactly. 0 K is absolute zero (−273.15°C), the tempting wrong pick since it swaps the roles of 0°C and 0 K.
- Q2Easy
Heat transfer through vacuum is by:
A.ConductionB.ConvectionC.Radiation✓ CorrectD.All threeAnswer: C. Radiation
Explanation: Conduction needs a solid medium and convection needs a fluid to carry matter, but radiation is electromagnetic waves needing no medium — the only mode that crosses vacuum, like sunlight reaching Earth.
- Q3Easy
Temperature is a measure of:
A.HeatB.Average kinetic energy of molecules✓ CorrectC.MassD.ForceAnswer: B. Average kinetic energy of molecules
Explanation: Kinetic theory defines temperature as a measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance's molecules, not the total heat content (which also depends on mass) — that distinction is the usual trap.
- Q4Easy
Coefficient of linear expansion α: ΔL = ?
A.α LB.α ΔTC.α L ΔT✓ CorrectD.ΔT/LAnswer: C. α L ΔT
Explanation: Linear expansion: ΔL = αLΔT, needing all three of the coefficient α, original length L, and temperature change ΔT together — dropping any one factor gives a dimensionally wrong result.
- Q5Easy
Heat is:
A.ForceB.TemperatureC.Form of energy transferred due to temperature difference✓ CorrectD.MassAnswer: C. Form of energy transferred due to temperature difference
Explanation: Heat is energy in transit between two bodies solely because of a temperature difference between them, not a property a body possesses the way temperature or mass are.
- Q6Medium
Linear thermal expansion: ΔL =
A.αL₀B.L₀/ΔTC.αL₀ΔT✓ CorrectD.αΔTAnswer: C. αL₀ΔT
Explanation: Linear thermal expansion law: ΔL = αL₀ΔT, where α is per °C, L₀ the original length, and ΔT the temperature change — all three factors must multiply together, not α and ΔT alone.
- Q7Medium
Heat absorbed during change of state without temperature change:
A.Specific heatB.Latent heat✓ CorrectC.Sensible heatD.Internal energyAnswer: B. Latent heat
Explanation: Latent heat is absorbed or released during a phase change (melting, boiling) with temperature held constant: Q = mL. Specific heat (Q = mcΔT) instead governs temperature change with no phase change.
- Q8Medium
30°C = ? K
A.373B.303C.273D.303.15✓ CorrectAnswer: D. 303.15
Explanation: K = °C + 273.15, so 30°C = 30 + 273.15 = 303.15 K. Rounding to 303 K, the tempting distractor, drops the 0.15 K that the exact definition requires.
- Q9Medium
Rod of length 1 m, α = 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ /°C. Expansion when heated 100°C:
A.12 mmB.1.2 cmC.1.2 mm✓ CorrectD.Cannot computeAnswer: C. 1.2 mm
Explanation: Linear expansion: ΔL = αL₀ΔT = 1.2×10⁻⁵ × 1 × 100 = 1.2×10⁻³ m = 1.2 mm. Misplacing the decimal gives the tempting 12 mm option — a factor-of-10 slip is the trap here.
- Q10Medium
1 cal ≈ ?
A.1 JB.100 JC.4.18 J✓ CorrectD.VariableAnswer: C. 4.18 J
Explanation: By the mechanical equivalent of heat, 1 calorie (heat to raise 1 g of water by 1°C) equals about 4.18 J — this conversion factor matters whenever cal and J units are mixed in a problem.
- Q11Hard
Stefan-Boltzmann: power radiated by black body ∝
A.TB.T²C.T³D.T⁴✓ CorrectAnswer: D. T⁴
Explanation: Stefan-Boltzmann law: power radiated by a black body P = εσAT⁴, so doubling absolute temperature multiplies radiated power by 2⁴ = 16 — the T² and T³ options understate this steep dependence.
- Q12Hard
Two materials with α₁ = 10⁻⁵ and α₂ = 2×10⁻⁵. To make composite rod of zero expansion, length ratio L₁:L₂ =
A.1:1B.1:2C.2:1✓ CorrectD.3:1Answer: C. 2:1
Explanation: For a compensated rod whose net length change cancels, α₁L₁ = α₂L₂, so L₁/L₂ = α₂/α₁ = (2×10⁻⁵)/(10⁻⁵) = 2, giving L₁:L₂ = 2:1 — the larger α needs the shorter length.
- Q13Hard
Heat to melt 1 kg ice (at 0°C) and heat it to 100°C and vaporize:
A.80·1000 + 100·1000 + 540·1000 = 720000 cal✓ CorrectB.100,000 calC.800,000 calD.Cannot computeAnswer: A. 80·1000 + 100·1000 + 540·1000 = 720000 cal
Explanation: Total heat sums three stages for 1 kg: melting (80×1000 cal), warming water 0→100°C (100×1000 cal, since c_water=1 cal/g°C), and vaporizing (540×1000 cal), giving 720,000 cal total.
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Start this chapter free →Thermal Properties of Matter — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 11 Physics Thermal Properties of Matter?+
Heat as energy in transit and its effects: temperature scales, linear, areal and volumetric expansion, specific and latent heat, the calorimetry principle for mixtures, and the three modes of heat transfer with the laws that govern conduction, Stefan-Boltzmann radiation and Newton's cooling. Key ideas include Heat and temperature, Temperature scales, Absolute zero, Linear expansion.
What does Class 11 Physics Chapter 11 (Thermal Properties of Matter) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 66 NCERT-based MCQs on "Thermal Properties of Matter": 22 Easy, 22 Medium and 22 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE & Maharashtra HSC Board exams, JEE Main, MHT-CET, JEE Advanced and NEET UG.
Are these "Thermal Properties of Matter" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Thermal Properties of Matter" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year on a launch offer until 1 December 2026. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Thermal Properties of Matter" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Thermal Properties of Matter" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 13 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Thermal Properties of Matter" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip, the same negative marking as JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET UG. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Thermal Properties of Matter (Class 11 Physics)?+
The questions that matter most test Heat and temperature, Temperature scales, Absolute zero, Linear expansion. This page shows 13 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations; all 66 questions on the chapter are available as timed quizzes once you sign in.
Is there an online quiz for Thermal Properties of Matter?+
Yes — Class 11 Physics Thermal Properties of Matter has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.