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Kinetic Particle Theory

How do particles around us move? Does it affect their properties?

Previously...

You've learnt that matter is made of three states: solid, liquid and gas. But how do particles behave in each of these states? 

Let's Explore!

Explore the simulation below to see what happens when you heat up a solid. Take note of the following:

 

  • How would you describle the particles' movements when it is a solid, liquid or gas? 

  • What are the speeds at which particles are moving at each state?

  • How close are the particles together at each state

 

Game On!

Are you confident you are confident in differentiating solids, liquids and gases? Unlock all three grids in Girdlock!

  • Fixed shape and volume

  • Regular arrangement

  • Closely packed

  • Vibrate about at fixed positions

Solid

  • Fixed volume but takes the shape of container

  • Irregular arrangement

  • Closely packed

  • Slide around neighbouring particles

Liquid

  • No fixed shape and volume

  • Irregular arrangement

  • Widely spaced

  • Move rapidly and randomly in all directions

Gas

Phase Changes

To describe phase changes, you must: 

  • Describe the movement of the intial state

  • Describe the movement of the particles as temperature changes

  • Describe the movement of the final state

Let's Explore!

Diffusion

Diffusion is the movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration (down a concentration gradient)

Explore the simulation below to see what happens when we have two gaseous substance on two sides of a container. Take note of the following:

 

  • What happens when you start the simulation? 

  • Compare the number of blue particles on the LHS and RHS. Which side has more blue particles?

  • Observe the graph depicting the number of particles on each side (click the popup menu bar on the right hand side). Are you able to explain the graph?

 

Factors affecting rate of diffusion

  • Vary the temperature of the simulation, and observe the movement of particles. Does increaseing temperature increase or decrease the rate of diffusion?

  • Vary the mass of one of the particle. Does increasing the mass of the particles increase ofr decrease the rate of diffusion? 

 

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