What’s the Matter?!?

(Describing Matter Unit)

What does our standard say?

Students will examine the scientific view of the nature of matter.We will start with element:

c) Describe the movement of particles in solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas states

Is It Matter?Which of these are matter and which are not?rocks salt baby powderMars milk Jupiterair steam lightdust heat lovecells water sound wavesatoms oxygen gravityelectricity smoke magnetic

force

Write a rule.

What rule did you use to decide if something is matter or not?

What is matter?Unlike energy, matter is…• anything that has mass• and takes up space (has volume.)

Matter can exist in 4 different states:

• Solid• Liquid• Gas• Plasma

Let’s Investigate!!! You’ll need to do some investigation of

matter and draw some of your own conclusions. You’ll be using some solids, a liquid, and a gas.

For now…

you don’t need to investigate the state of matter called “plasma.” Even though most of the matter in the universe is made up of plasma, we will come back to it later.

You will be given a collection of matter:• List each of the objects in your composition book.• Next to it, with your partner, describe it in as many ways as you

can.

• In a few minutes we will compare our notes as a class.• After we have shared, copy the table on the next slide and fill out

the yellow part. We will compare answers.

Item Description

Make a chart to record what you find out. (For now, you will only work on the yellow columns.)

Phase of matter

Definite Volume?

Definite Shape?

Distance between particles

Movement of particles

Attraction between particles

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Plasma

Did you figure them out correctly?Phase of matter

Definite Volume?

Definite Shape?

Distance between particles

Movement of particles

Attraction between particles

Solid Yes Yes

LiquidYes

No, it takes the shape of the container

GasNo

No, it fills whatever space you

give it

Plasma

Let’s find out about the distance between the particles in a solid, a liquid,

and a gas.1. In groups we will draw pictures to show how far apart we

think the particles are in a solid, liquid or gas.2. We will do “How Close are the Particles” POE

POE: How Close are the Particles?Question: How close are the particles in a liquid compared to a gas?P: Air in the syringe After pushing on the plunger

O:

E: 

P: Water in the syringe After pushing the plunger

O:

E:

P: Marshmallow in syringe After pushing the plunger

O:

E:

What if the syringe was filled with solid concrete. How far down would the plunger go?

So, how does the distance between particles compare among solids, liquids, and gases?

Go back and fill in the chart.

Did you figure them out correctly?Phase of matter

Definite Volume?

Definite Shape?

Distance between particles

Movement of particles

Attraction between particles

Solid Yes Yes Close

LiquidYes

No, it takes the shape of the container

Close

GasNo

No, it fills whatever space you

give it

Far apart

Plasma

What is the motion of the particles like?1. “Time for Tea” lab.2. Let’s see a simulation on a great website,

www.pHet.colorado.edu

Did you figure them out correctly?Phase of matter

Definite Volume?

Definite Shape?

Distance between particles

Movement of particles

Attraction between particles

SolidYes Yes

Close Vibrate in place in an orderly arrangement

LiquidYes

No, it takes the shape of the container

Close Flow around each other

GasNo

No, it fills whatever space you

give it

Far apart Fast and colliding

Plasma

How can we cartoon to show the distance between the particles and the motion of the particles in a solid, a liquid, and a gas?

Let’s play a game called…

Science Sez

Attraction between particles1. Depends mostly on their distance apart. The farther

apart, the less attraction.2. So…. Which 2 states of matter have particles that are

strongly attracted to each other. Which one are they not as attracted to each other?

Did you figure them out correctly?Phase of matter

Definite Volume?

Definite Shape?

Distance between particles

Movement of particles

Attraction between particles

SolidYes Yes

Close Vibrate in place in orderly

arrangment

Strongly attracted

LiquidYes

No, it takes the shape of the container

Close Flow around each other

Strongly attracted

GasNo

No, it fills whatever space you

give it

Far apart Fast and colliding

Somewhat attracted

Plasma

A Phase Change Diagram:You’ll need to draw this in your composition book.

See page 80.)

Between what phases do these happen?

CondensationEvaporationVaporization

Melting point/Freezing pointBoiling pointSublimation

Is heat energy being added or removed with each process?

Do all substances melt or boil at the same temperature?

Substance Melting/Freezing Point

oC

Boiling PointoC

Water 0 100

Hydrogen -259 -253

Iron 1536 2860

Lead 327 1740

Oxygen -218 -183

Substance Melting/Freezing

PointoC

Boiling Point

oC

Water 0 100

Hydro-gen

-259 -253

Iron 1536 2860

Lead 327 1740

Oxygen -218 -183

• Earth’s temperature ranges from -88 to 58oC. What state of matter would each substance be in?

• Saturn has a surface temperature of -176oC. What about substances there?

• Neptune’s surface is -218oC. What about substances there?

PLASMAPlasma is a very hot gas that is made of electrically

charged particles. A plasma conducts electrical currents. There is plasma in stars, lightning, and fluorescent lights. The universe is about 99% plasma!!

It was discovered in 1879.

Where is plasma found?• Fluorescent lamps and neon signs• Welding arcs• Lightning• The upper atmosphere (the ionosphere)• Stars and the Sun• the solar wind• interstellar gas clouds• The fireball made by a nuclear weapon• Comet tails

Did you figure them out correctly?Phase of matter

Definite Volume?

Definite Shape?

Distance between particles

Movement of particles

Attraction between particles

SolidYes Yes

Close Vibrate in place in orderly

arrangement

Strongly attracted

LiquidYes

No, it takes the shape of the

container

Close Flow around each other

Strongly attracted

GasNo

No, it fills whatever

space you give it

Far apart Fast and colliding

LittleAttraction

Plasma No No Very far apart

Extremely fast No attraction