Air, It's Really There

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

8

Overview

This lesson focuses on molecular motion in gases. Students compare the mass of a basketball when it is deflated and after it has been inflated. The inflated ball has the greater mass so students can conclude that gas is matter because it has mass and takes up space. Then students consider how heating and cooling affect molecular motion in gases. They dip the mouth of a bottle in detergent solution and observe a bubble growing and shrinking when the bottle is warmed and cooled. Students will learn that the attractions between gas molecules are so minimal that attractions can’t be used to explain the behavior of gases like they can for liquids and solids.

Based on observations of demonstrations and their own experimentation, students will be able to describe gas as matter. Students will also be able to describe, on the molecular level, the effect of heating and cooling on the motion of molecules of a gas.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 8

SC15.8.4

Design and conduct an experiment to determine changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.

UP:SC15.8.4

Vocabulary

  • Particle motion
  • Temperature
  • State [of Matter]
  • Pure substance
  • Thermal Energy
  • Kinetic Energy
  • System

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Changes in particle motion of a pure substance occur when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Changes in temperature of a pure substance occur when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Changes in state of a pure substance occur when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify the phenomena under investigation, which includes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Identify the purpose of the investigation, which includes determining changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added to or removed from a system.
  • Develop a plan for the investigation individually or collaboratively.
  • Describe factors used in the investigation including appropriate units (if necessary), independent and dependent variables, controls and number of trials for each experimental condition.
  • Perform the investigation as prescribed by the plan.
  • Use data from the investigation to provide an causal account of the relationship between the addition of removal of thermal energy from a substance and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Adding or removing thermal energy from a system causes changes in particle motion of a pure substance.
  • Adding or removing thermal energy from a system causes changes in temperature of a pure substance.
  • Adding or removing thermal energy from a system causes changes in state of a pure substance.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Systems and System Models

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

American Chemical Society

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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