GCSE Physics Revision — Internal Energy
Revise Internal Energy for GCSE Physics with a topic explanation, worked example and common mistakes. Check the board notes for specification differences.
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What is Internal Energy?
Internal energy is the total energy that the particles of a substance have. It is the sum of the kinetic energy (due to their motion) and the potential energy (due to the bonds between them) of all the particles in the system. Heating a substance increases its internal energy.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The distinction between internal energy and temperature is a key concept.
Step-by-step explanationWorked examples
Worked example
A beaker of water is heated, causing its temperature to rise. Describe what happens to the internal energy of the water. Solution: Heating the water transfers energy to its molecules. This increases their kinetic energy, so they move faster. This means the internal energy of the water has increased.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing internal energy with temperature. Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles, whereas internal energy is the total energy of all particles.
- 2Thinking that a change of state does not involve a change in internal energy. During a change of state, the potential energy of the particles changes, so the internal energy changes, even if the temperature stays the same.
- 3Forgetting that internal energy is the sum of both kinetic and potential energy. Both components are important.
Internal Energy exam questions
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Frequently asked questions
How can you increase the internal energy of a substance?
You can increase the internal energy of a substance by heating it, which increases the kinetic energy of its particles. You can also do work on the substance, for example, by compressing a gas.
What happens to internal energy during a change of state?
During a change of state, such as melting or boiling, the internal energy of a substance increases, but the temperature does not. The energy is used to break the bonds between particles, increasing their potential energy.