Lesson 5.6.1.3

5.6.1.3 Collision theory and activation energy Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 13

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson 5.6.1.3, Collision theory and activation energy: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 13: The rate and extent of chemical change, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

Host this setFree Play

The 20 questions

  1. What is the minimum energy particles must have to react?

    • Thermal energy
    • Bond energy
    • Kinetic energy
    • Activation energy

  2. According to collision theory, when do chemical reactions occur?

    • With sufficient energy
    • In a closed vessel
    • Without any catalysts
    • At high pressure

  3. What happens to collisions when reactant concentration increases?

    • Frequency decreases
    • Speed decreases
    • Frequency increases
    • Energy decreases

  4. How does an increase in temperature affect reactant collisions?

    • Less frequent and energetic
    • More frequent only
    • More energetic only
    • More frequent and energetic

  5. What effect does increasing solid reactant surface area have?

    • Decreases activation energy
    • Increases collision frequency
    • Decreases collision frequency
    • Increases activation energy

  6. What is the effect of increasing pressure in gaseous reactions?

    • Decreases activation energy
    • Decreases collision frequency
    • Increases activation energy
    • Increases collision frequency

  7. Collision theory assumes rate is proportional to what factor?

    • Collision frequency
    • Particle mass
    • Activation energy
    • Total volume

  8. Which cube has the largest surface area to volume ratio?

    • 2 cm cube
    • 0.5 cm cube
    • 5 cm cube
    • 1 cm cube

  9. What happens to collision frequency if particle number doubles in the same volume?

    • Frequency quadruples
    • Frequency stays constant
    • Frequency halves
    • Frequency doubles

  10. What is the surface area to volume ratio of a 2 cm cube?

    • 6 per cm
    • 1.5 per cm
    • 12 per cm
    • 3 per cm

  11. If particles collide with less energy than activation energy, what happens?

    • Activation energy drops
    • Reaction speeds up
    • No reaction occurs
    • Bonds form instantly

  12. Which change directly increases the kinetic energy of particles?

    • Raising the temperature
    • Increasing concentration
    • Adding a catalyst
    • Decreasing surface area

  13. Why does cutting a solid into smaller pieces increase reaction rate?

    • Increases surface area
    • Increases temperature
    • Lowers activation energy
    • Increases volume

  14. At constant temperature, what happens when concentration is halved?

    • Rate stays constant
    • Activation energy halves
    • Collision frequency halves
    • Collision frequency doubles

  15. Why does the rate of a reaction decrease over time in a closed vessel?

    • Reactants are used up
    • Temperature increases
    • Products are removed
    • Activation energy rises

  16. What happens to the rate of a reaction when the fraction of particles with energy exceeding the activation energy doubles?

    • Increases
    • Decreases
    • Stays the same
    • Stops completely

  17. According to collision theory, why does doubling the surface area of a solid reactant increase the rate?

    • Higher particle energy
    • Increased gas pressure
    • More exposed particles
    • Lower activation energy

  18. Which change increases collision energy but not the number of particles per volume?

    • Adding more reactant
    • Using a smaller container
    • Increasing surface area
    • Raising the temperature

  19. What is the result of a particle collision with energy below the activation energy?

    • No reaction
    • Catalyst formation
    • Bond breakage
    • Instant reaction

  20. Tripling the concentration at constant temperature changes collision frequency by about:

    • Nine times
    • Three times
    • One third
    • Unchanged

All AQA Combined Science quizzes