Class 11 Physics Chapter 10 Thermal Properties of Matter – Revision Notes

This chapter opens with the Kelvin and Celsius scales before moving into thermal expansion, where length, area, and volume each expand at their own characteristic rate. From there it covers calorimetry and the three modes of heat transfer that govern how heat moves between bodies.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

Temperature and Expansion

• K=°C+273.15.
• ΔL=LαΔT; ΔA=AβΔT (β=2α); ΔV=VγΔT (γ=3α).

Heat and Calorimetry

• Q=mcΔT; Q=mL (phase change).
• Calorimetry: heat lost=heat gained.

Heat Transfer

• Conduction, convection, radiation.
• Stefan-Boltzmann: E=σT⁴.

One-Line Summary

Thermal properties of matter cover temperature measurement, thermal expansion, specific/latent heat, and the three modes of heat transfer — conduction, convection, and radiation.

Quick visual: a worked diagram from the full Solutions page, for reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between heat and temperature?
Heat is the total energy transferred between objects due to a temperature difference, while temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, so heat is a form of energy transfer, not a property a body possesses.

Why does the temperature of a substance remain constant during a change of state, such as ice melting?
During a change of state, the heat supplied is used entirely to break intermolecular bonds and change the phase as latent heat, rather than to increase the kinetic energy of the particles, so the temperature stays constant until the change is complete.

Written by Satish

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