Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Matter & Molecules



During the past week have investigated molecular motion. We have learned that the matter in all 4 states 9 solids, liquids, gases, and plasma - move, and that there is space between molecules. The molecules of a solid vibrate in place while the molecules of liquids and gases have the ability to slide past one another, thus allowing them to take the shape of the container they are in.


We used a water balloon and a rocket balloon to show this. The students also role played the parts the molecules of solids, liquids, and gases to help them gain a better understanding of these 2 concepts.


I addition, saw that matter expands when heated and contracts when heat (thermal) energy is taken away, or cooled. The students acted this out, too. We did the Ball & Ring demo to show that a solid expands when heated and contracts when cooled.





We used "Mood Balls" to demonstrate that liquids and gases expand and contract, too.






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