At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Match each phase of matter with its characteristics
- Describe the role of temperature in determining the phase of matter
- Describe how heat is measured
- Differentiate between the three ways that heat is transferred
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.
Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:
If the kinetic energy within a substance is so low that the attraction between the molecules is much stronger than the forces pulling the molecules apart, the material will be in a solid state of matter. The molecules have some energy but their movement is confined to vibrating or jiggling in place as they are so densely packed. 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. When a solid is heated to a certain point, it will change to the liquid state of matter.
Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic: