# Thermal Properties of Matter, Class 11 Physics | SwaVid Thermal Properties of Matter, NCERT Class 11 Physics: notes with key ideas, formulas, common mistakes and 3 quick checks with worked answers. Canonical: https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapter/thermal-properties-of-matter Source: https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapter/thermal-properties-of-matter # Thermal Properties of Matter ## Formulas and definitions ## Key ideas ## Common mistakes ## Quick checks ## Keep going ## Questions parents ask ## Class 11 Physics on SwaVid ### Temperature and heat ### Thermal expansion ### Specific heat capacity and calorimetry ### Change of state and latent heat ### Heat transfer mechanisms ### Newton's law of cooling ### Next chapter ### Related chapter ### Related chapter ### All chapters SwaVid › CBSE › Class 11 › Physics › Thermal Properties of Matter Notes written by SwaVid from the NCERT textbook. Class 11 Physics, Chapter 10. Key ideas, formulas and common mistakes. CBSE prints 20 marks for Units VII-IX together, not for this chapter alone. Short answer. This chapter deals with temperature, heat transfer, thermal expansion of matter, calorimetry, and changes of state. It explains how heat energy affects the dimensions, phase, and temperature of substances through defined thermal constants and transfer mechanisms. Source: NCERT Physics Part II (Reprint 2026-27) , Chapter 10, Thermal Properties of Matter Temperature measures the hotness or coldness of a body, while heat is the energy transferred between bodies due to a temperature difference. Heat flows spontaneously from a body at higher temperature to one at lower temperature until thermal equilibrium is reached. Most substances expand when heated. Solids experience linear, area, and volume expansion, while liquids and gases primarily undergo volume expansion. Water shows an anomalous expansion between 0 °C and 4 °C, where its volume decreases as temperature rises. Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required per unit mass to raise the temperature of a substance by one unit. Calorimetry relies on the principle of conservation of energy, where heat lost by hotter bodies equals heat gained by colder bodies in an insulated system. Transition between solid, liquid, and gas phases occurs at constant temperature for a given pressure. Latent heat is the heat per unit mass required to change the state of a substance without altering its temperature. Heat transfers via conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction transfers energy through molecular vibrations without bulk motion, convection involves the actual motion of fluid matter, and radiation transfers energy through electromagnetic waves without needing a medium. The rate of loss of heat of a body is directly proportional to the difference in temperature between the body and its surroundings, provided the temperature difference is small. Try each question first. Then tap it to see the answer. ΔT = 120 - 20 = 100 K ΔL = α l × L × ΔT = (2.0 × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹) × (0.50 m) × (100 K) ΔL = 1.0 × 10⁻³ m = 0.10 cm 1.0 × 10⁻³ m Q = m × L f Q = (0.10 kg) × (3.33 × 10⁵ J kg⁻¹) Q = 3.33 × 10⁴ J 3.33 × 10⁴ J ΔT = 45 - 25 = 20 K s = Q / (m × ΔT) = 1800 J / (0.20 kg × 20 K) s = 1800 / 4.0 = 450 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ 450 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ Thermodynamics . Mechanical Properties of Solids . Kinetic Theory . The 14 chapters of Class 11 Physics . CBSE does not give marks to one chapter. It prints 20 marks for Units VII-IX together (Properties of Bulk Matter; Thermodynamics; Behaviour of Perfect Gases and Kinetic Theory). Thermal Properties of Matter is part of that group. No. They are written by SwaVid from the NCERT textbook. The CBSE curriculum is the reference for what is assessed. Thermodynamics. SwaVid is an AI tutor for Indian students in Classes 6 to 12. It finds the earlier ideas a child missed, then teaches today’s chapter. Start free to see how it works. - Ch 10 NCERT book - 20 marks, Units VII-IX together - 3 quick checks - Adding heat capacity instead of specific heat capacity in mass formulas . Heat capacity S applies to the entire body (ΔQ = S × ΔT), whereas specific heat capacity s requires multiplication by mass (ΔQ = m × s × ΔT). - Using temperature change during a change of state . Temperature remains constant during a phase change, so use Q = m × L instead of Q = m × s × ΔT. - Mixing up Celsius and Kelvin values in expansion formulas . A temperature difference ΔT has the same numerical value in Celsius and Kelvin, but absolute temperature values T must not be swapped directly. ## Key Links - [CBSE](https://www.swavid.com/cbse) - [Class 11](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11) - [Physics](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapters) - [Start free →](https://www.swavid.com/signup) - [All 14 chapters](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapters) - [NCERT Physics Part II (Reprint 2026-27)](https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php) - [Open notes](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapter/thermodynamics) - [Open notes](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapter/mechanical-properties-of-solids) - [Open notes](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapter/kinetic-theory) - [Class 11 Physics](https://www.swavid.com/cbse/class-11/physics/chapters) - [Start free →](https://www.swavid.com/signup)