WebQuest: Solids, Liquids, and Gases

In this WebQuest, you will use the States of Matter interactive to explore similarities and differences
among the particle motion of solids, liquids and gases.
Part I: How do particle arrangements and motions differ for solids, liquids, and gases?
For this interactive, make sure that the Solid, Liquid, Gas tab appears in the top left corner of the
screen. The cylinder represents a container with a fixed volume that can be filled with different types of
gas particles. Select Oxygen from the list of molecules and click the Gas button to display an
animation of oxygen molecules in the gas phase. Your screen should look similar to the screen below.

!
1. How does the animation illustrate core ideas of the kinetic molecular theory? Justify your response.
Kinetic theory or kinetic theory of gases attempts to explain overall properties of gases, such as
pressure, temperature, or volume, by considering their molecular composition and motion. The theory
basically states that pressure is not caused by molecules pushing each other away, like earlier scientists
thought. Instead, pressure is caused by the molecules colliding with each other and their container.

2. The particles in the oxygen gas animation show many different kinds of motions. Identify three
different kinds of motions/interactions you observe. Which motions create pressure on the walls of the
container?
Three different kinds of motions/interactions I observe are 1. gas particles are bumping into each other
and theyre moving faster when colliding. 2. When moving freely in the container, the gas particles are
spinning and 3. When the particle collides on the edge of the container, it bounces back slowly instead of
floating out of the container. The O2 in the container have LDF, since gases have perfect collision, they

bounce against each other perfectly. Gas moves in all directions and they bounce one everything they
touch.

2. Click the Liquid and then the Solid buttons for oxygen and study the particle motion for each phase.
Compare the particle motions for each phase by completing the chart below:
Gas

Liquid

Solid

level of order observed no particular

in particle
arrangement
arrangements

slightly separated

closely packed

average distance
between particles

a lot

a little

little to none

main types of
molecular motion

separate particles
floating up and down

moving in a close pack

together but not
separately

little motion/no motion at

all

how well the particles

fill the container

not well

it fits well

fits very well in the

container

temperature reading
displayed

194 K

69 K

31K

distribution of particle
speeds

fast

medium

slow

Part II: How can two substances be the same temperature and yet exist in different phases?
Select Argon molecules and Gas phase to see an animation of gas phase argon atoms.
4.What temperature measurement (value and units) does the
thermometer show?
189K
5.What is the freezing point of water in Kelvin and Celsius

degrees?
0 degrees Celsius and 273 K.

6. Room temperature is about 22 degrees Celsius or 72 degrees Fahrenheit. How many Kelvin is this?
295K
7. Use the slider under the cylinder to increase the temperature to 292 Kelvin. Characterize the motions
of the argon atoms at that temperature:
The argon atoms are moving much faster than when it was at 189 K.
Select Water molecules and Liquid phase to see water
molecules at 292 Kelvin.
8.How do the motions and average distances between water
molecules at 292 Kelvin compare to the motions and average
distances between argon atoms at the same temperature?
The Argon atoms were moving much faster than the water atoms at
the same temperature

9. How do the type and strength of intermolecular forces among argon atoms compare to the type and
strength of intermolecular forces among water molecules? How does this explain the observed
differences in the particle-level animations for argon and water at 292 Kelvin?
The intermolecular forces in water are much stronger than argon atoms. The observed differences are
stated because water isnt moving as loosely as argon at 292 K.

Part III: How does adding or removing heat change particle motions of a substance?
Select Neon molecules and the Solid phase. Use the slider under the cylinder to increase the
temperature in 20-Kelvin increments. Record your observations at each temperature by completing the
table:
Thermometer
reading
9K

Description of neon atom movement

The molecules are shaking, but theyre still stuck together.

29 K

The neon molecules are floating freely across the container.

49 K

The molecules are separated and moving quickly across the container.

10.Which statement best describes the changes in particle motion that occur when heat is gradually
removed from a substance? Use the interactive to explore this phenomenon if you are unsure. Select
the checkbox next to your answer.
A. All particles speed up and move with the same speed.
B. Some particles speed up, but there is still a range of particle speeds.
C. Some particles slow down and fewer particles collide with the walls of the container.
D. All particles slow down, to the point where all particles vibrate with identical frequencies.
(My Answer)
D