Key Questions
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What are the three states of matter?
All matter on earth exists in one of three phases or states: solid, liquid, or gas.
What is a solid?
Solid materials have a fixed volume and shape. They are extremely rigid and therefore cannot be easily compressed. Solids also do not flow and cannot easily be joined together with another solid.
What is a liquid?
When heat is applied to a solid, the kinetic energy of the molecules increases. The additional energy allows the molecules to move more freely and spread out. The substance turns into the liquid state.
What is a gas?
The third matter state is gas. In this phase, the substance's molecules' kinetic energy is so much greater than the attractive force, that these molecules are able to completely break away from any holding forces and move around freely. Gases are easily compressed but can also occupy substantially more space than the other matter states.
What is Pascal's Principle?
According to Pascal's Principle, pressure applied to any enclosed fluid results in a force that is transmitted equally in all directions.
What is Boyle's Law?
According to Boyle's Law, Pressure = Force Exerted/Surface Area of Contact.
What are three temperature scales used today?
Fahrenheit, Celsius (or centigrade), and Kelvin.
What are three ways that temperature can be transferred?
Heat can be transferred through convection, conduction, or radiation.