O-LevelPhysicsThermal Physics5054/12 · Oct/Nov 2023 · Q221 Mark

Cotton wool is a good thermal insulator. It consists of many threads of cotton which are tangled together to make a material which can easily be pulled apart or compressed. The diagram shows the structure of cotton wool. Why is cotton wool a good thermal insulator?

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

AEach thread is very thin.

BIt has a large surface area because it is made of many threads.

CIt has a low density because of the trapped air.

DIt traps air and prevents convection.

✓ Correct answer

D: It traps air and prevents convection.

Oracle Prep sorts past-paper questions by topic, so you can drill Thermal Physics and see which topics are most likely to come up next.

Topic: Thermal Physics, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Multiple choice, 1 mark.
Source: O-Level Physics, Oct/Nov 2023 Paper 1 Variant 2, question 22.

Questions and mark schemes are from past examination papers and remain the copyright of the exam board. How Oracle Prep builds its content