# Topic Questions: 132 be able to derive and use the equation $\frac{1}{2}m =\frac{3}{2}kT$ — WPH15 Thermodynamics

> 19 WPH15 Thermodynamics topic questions (41 marks) on 132 be able to derive and use the equation … — 16 papers, 2020–2026. Open the exact question in the…

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Edexcel IAL · Physics · WPH15 · Thermodynamics

19 WPH15 Thermodynamics topic questions are tagged to this syllabus point across 16 papers (2020–2026). Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches this syllabus statement are counted, and the table shows which parts of each question are involved.

- 19 topic questions
- 16 papers
- 41 tagged marks
- 17.1% of topic questions
- 12.2% of topic marks
- 2020–2026
- Syllabus 2018–current
- [All WPH15 Thermodynamics topic questions](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/)
- [All paper codes](https://www.examsci.com/topics/)

Core finding

**This Thermodynamics syllabus point appears in 16 WPH15 papers across 2020–2026, contributing 19 topic questions and 41 marks.** The most recent appearance is WPH15/01 January 2026. That equals 17.1% of the 111 topic questions and 12.2% of the 337 marks tagged to Thermodynamics. Only parts tagged to this subtopic are counted, so a four-part question can contribute one item and one part's marks. The table lists every matching question, its tagged parts and marks, with a link back to the paper page. Sessions are newest first, so the statement can be traced back through the full paper history.

## Topic questions by session

Newest sessions first. Parts and marks count only the parts tagged to this subtopic; “x of y parts” shows how much of the question is tagged elsewhere. Select the paper cell to open the matching question on the paper page, or use **Go to Practice Hub** to answer that exact question in the Interactive Practice Hub.

| Paper | Question | Type | Parts | Marks | Difficulty | Practice |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [**WPH15/01** January 2026 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2026-january-wph15-01/#q-18) | **Q18** Exoplanets and Stellar Characteristics of Trappist-1 - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q18 | FRQ | 1 of 6 parts ((b)(ii)) | 2 of 14 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=33df4133-3f97-49c4-8770-848b232eb7b1&question_id=065e9f95-d8d2-45bf-994f-5caa08dae9a0&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2026) |
| [**WPH15/02** January 2026 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2026-january-wph15-02/#q-2) | **Q2** Molecular Mean Squared Speed - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q2 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=f63db731-6514-40da-90c9-5232288471cb&question_id=4252fecb-74ff-4810-99cb-9b800ecd0f57&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+January+2026) |
| [**WPH15/02** January 2026 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2026-january-wph15-02/#q-15) | **Q15** Weather Balloon Physics - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2026 Q15 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 2 of 5 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=f63db731-6514-40da-90c9-5232288471cb&question_id=4695194d-1356-4c89-aa6a-6f3b7eafbf03&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+January+2026) |
| [**WPH15/01** October 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-october-wph15-01/#q-10) | **Q10** Thermodynamics - Molecular Kinetic Theory - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2025 Q10 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=a7fbae2d-76be-4ac0-9bd4-df3ed119c92f&question_id=265765b4-de8b-4907-9109-061a7a91f3d9&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2025) |
| [**WPH15/01** October 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-october-wph15-01/#q-19) | **Q19** Thermodynamics - Upthrust and Gas Behavior - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2025 Q19 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 6 of 10 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=a7fbae2d-76be-4ac0-9bd4-df3ed119c92f&question_id=9ba20957-07c6-4712-8469-c282341d7aed&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2025) |
| [**WPH15/02** October 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-october-wph15-02/#q-10) | **Q10** Molecular RMS Speed Ratio - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2025 Q10 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=e7442241-a09d-4872-a697-6e37dca804e8&question_id=c9f682f0-ed01-434a-9fd4-0f9441ad09b4&source_detail=WPH15%2F02+October+2025) |
| [**WPH15/01** June 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-june-wph15-01/#q-19) | **Q19** Tau Ceti Stellar Properties - Edexcel IAL Physics June 2025 Q19 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)(ii)) | 2 of 10 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=2e30fb2a-dfff-4c32-b30f-fefebd92c451&question_id=651f39be-77ce-4602-99a7-eeef7fe1d9b8&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2025) |
| [**WPH15/01** January 2025 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2025-january-wph15-01/#q-6) | **Q6** Gaseous Kinetic Theory - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2025 Q6 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=40c335c3-e98a-43c8-b5d1-d1abedfaca1a&question_id=5f5ae66b-59e9-4367-9f46-b4c9ec7c58c4&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2025) |
| [**WPH15/01** October 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-october-wph15-01/#q-11) | **Q11** Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Oct 2024 Q11 | FRQ | 1 part | 2 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=3e10632c-bdcc-44a6-afc4-5f4f7a30978e&question_id=03c5fce2-10ec-49ec-bbe5-e9e48351731b&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2024) |
| [**WPH15/01** June 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-june-wph15-01/#q-8) | **Q8** Gas Molecule RMS Speed Ratio - Edexcel IAL Physics Unit 5 Jun 2024 Q8 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=fd4de767-0a74-4fd7-9f81-6fb7daf58d01&question_id=5af89f2b-5390-4f09-b3e4-0b632d3adb7c&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2024) |
| [**WPH15/01** January 2024 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2024-january-wph15-01/#q-8) | **Q8** Thermodynamics - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2024 Q8 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=81ae8d95-9845-43d2-85aa-56edeba0f606&question_id=14e5ac2e-9f9f-48c6-8b17-d76f61e68d6b&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2024) |
| [**WPH15/01** October 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-october-wph15-01/#q-11) | **Q11** Molecular Kinetic Energy in a Balloon - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2023 Q11 | FRQ | 1 part | 3 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=c6d9493b-ab37-4b2a-967c-30f17fd52e71&question_id=d73ec105-026b-4252-89c2-b2bbb1594839&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2023) |
| [**WPH15/01** January 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-january-wph15-01/#q-12) | **Q12** Escape Velocity and Atmospheric Composition - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2023 Q12 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((b)(ii)) | 2 of 6 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=79fd249d-5274-48b7-a2fe-e660c6fd21a0&question_id=695c1356-dec1-4cb6-a585-309d884d06ce&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2023) |
| [**WPH15/01** January 2023 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2023-january-wph15-01/#q-17) | **Q17** Ideal Gas Pressure and Molecular Motion - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2023 Q17 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 6 of 10 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=79fd249d-5274-48b7-a2fe-e660c6fd21a0&question_id=1375ac76-7c3f-49cc-837f-1d41f15ade12&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2023) |
| [**WPH15/01** June 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-june-wph15-01/#q-19) | **Q19** Mercury Atoms Spectrum and Star Chi Lupi Properties - Edexcel IAL Physics Jun 2022 Q19 | FRQ | 1 of 3 parts ((a)) | 3 of 8 on the paper | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=9a093fb4-7c1b-4987-9e36-33b3e20c2b25&question_id=daaa8595-95a7-4058-870a-5787a341ac7e&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2022) |
| [**WPH15/01** January 2022 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2022-january-wph15-01/#q-13) | **Q13** Weather Balloon Thermodynamics - Edexcel IAL Physics Jan 2022 Q13 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 2 of 5 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=ba0935d7-8bd2-4880-a14a-07ef68b24285&question_id=2e2a3693-2cc8-4a86-bb5a-1e9aa4d9e5e0&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+January+2022) |
| [**WPH15/01** October 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-october-wph15-01/#q-14) | **Q14** Properties of Landfill Natural Gas - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2021 Unit 5 Q14 | FRQ | 1 of 2 parts ((b)) | 3 of 6 on the paper | Easy | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=85f00adf-61bf-4290-b7e1-556838a91d6f&question_id=c77acbe7-1c92-4274-b0f2-a2541ee687f6&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2021) |
| [**WPH15/01** June 2021 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2021-june-wph15-01/#q-7) | **Q7** Mean Square Speed of Helium Molecules - Edexcel IAL Physics Jun 2021 Q7 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=ab093dfb-339d-4a8a-9997-6d539dfdc6b8&question_id=210a9d03-7112-4082-a909-31a6d2c9fc7c&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+June+2021) |
| [**WPH15/01** October 2020 · Edexcel IAL](https://www.examsci.com/past-papers/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/2020-october-wph15-01/#q-3) | **Q3** Gas Molecules rms Velocity Ratio - Edexcel IAL Physics Oct 2020 Q3 | MCQ | MCQ · 1 part | 1 | Medium | [Go to Practice Hub](https://www.examsci.com/practice?set_id=1a3931f7-4a72-41eb-af5a-0d315b2148a6&question_id=4260bad6-fd2b-4394-97f0-46011a9ee0d3&source_detail=WPH15%2F01+October+2020) |

## Related topic questions in Thermodynamics

- [125 be able to use the equations $\Delta E=mc\Delta\theta$ and $\Delta E=L\Delta m$](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/125-be-able-to-use-the-equations-delta-e-mc-delta-theta-and-delta-e-l-delta-m/) — 44 question items · 20 papers — 145 marks · 2020–2026
- [126 CORE PRACTICAL 12: Calibrate a thermistor in a potential divider circuit as a thermostat](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/126-core-practical-12-calibrate-a-thermistor-in-a-potential-divider-circuit-as-a/) — 3 question items · 3 papers — 13 marks · 2020–2024
- [127 CORE PRACTICAL 13: Determine the specific latent heat of a phase change](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/127-core-practical-13-determine-the-specific-latent-heat-of-a-phase-change/) — 3 question items · 3 papers — 6 marks · 2020–2026
- [128 understand the concept of internal energy as the random distribution of potential and kinetic energy amongst molecules](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/128-understand-the-concept-of-internal-energy-as-the-random-distribution-of-potential/) — 16 question items · 9 papers — 48 marks · 2020–2026
- [129 understand the concept of absolute zero and how the average kinetic energy of molecules is related to the absolute temperature](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/129-understand-the-concept-of-absolute-zero-and-how-the-average-kinetic-energy-of/) — 11 question items · 10 papers — 40 marks · 2020–2026
- [130 be able to use the equation $pV=NkT$ for an ideal gas](https://www.examsci.com/topics/edexcel-ial/physics/physics-unit-5-wph15/thermodynamics/130-be-able-to-use-the-equation-pv-nkt-for-an-ideal-gas/) — 32 question items · 20 papers — 101 marks · 2020–2026

## Topic question rules and edge cases

**How many topic questions cover this syllabus point?**

19 question stems cover this subtopic across 16 papers, but only 19 tagged parts and 41 marks belong to it. Other parts of the same questions are assessed under different statements and are excluded from this page.

**Which papers include this subtopic?**

The table lists every matching session from 2020–2026. Each row links to the question anchor on the paper page, where the full paper context and practice entry point are available.

**Why can one question appear under several subtopics?**

The parts of one question can assess different syllabus statements. Each part is counted under its own subtopics, so the same question stem can appear on several subtopic pages while each page lists only the parts and marks tagged to that statement.

**Can I practise these questions with AI marking?**

Yes. Open a paper from the table and use the Interactive Practice Hub entry point. The page itself is static HTML so search engines and retrieval agents can read the full question list without executing JavaScript.

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