ACTIVITY #3
Solid, Liquid and Gas
hree states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. The molecules of a solid are close
together and moving slowly or not at all. If you add energy, the molecules begin to
move faster and further apart. This change in energy causes a change in the phase on
matter to liquid. Add a little more energy, and the molecules dance excitedly, Spacing
themselves even farther apart. The matter changes to a gas.
SCIENCE 8
"Directions: Study the three phases of matter using balloons. Write your observations
Fill balloon 1 with a gas. You can fill the balloon with air from your lungs, an air pump or
water vapor (heat up liquid water, as water vapor forms the balloon will fill with the gas.)
What shape is the balloon? What do you think has happened?
Fill balloon 2 with a liquid. You can fill the balloon with water or another liquid. What shape
is the balloon? Why the balloon has this shape?
liquid
Fill balloon 3 with a liquid. You can fill the balloon with water and then freeze the balloon.
What will be the shape of the balloon with solid in it? Why the shape of this balloon is
different than the other shapes?
Solid
Answers
Answer:
a crystal of copper sulphate is placed in agar gel; the blue colour slowly diffuses through the gel
a potassium permanganate crystal is placed in a glass and water is slowly added. See the image. Alternatively water is very slowly added to a solution of potassium permanganate in a burette.
Explanation:
At this level, students are expected to 'explain the behaviour and properties of materials in terms of their constituent particles and the forces holding them together’ (VELS standards Level 6). However, the fact that students may be able to draw the usual static arrangements of particles in solids, liquids and gases does not mean that they hold a fully particulate view of matter. Research evidence suggests that many students at this age and older still hold a number of alternative conceptions about particles which prove difficult to extinguish. They often lack an appreciation of the very small size of particles, attribute macroscopic properties to microscopic particles, have difficulty appreciating the motion of particles in all states of matter and have problems understanding forces between particles.