LESSON PLAN
Topic: relationship between the macroscopic and microscopic properties of matter
Name: Three States of Matter
Class: Physics or Chemistry
Grade Level: 9-12
Major Concepts:
states of matter, macroscopic and microscopic properties of matter, phase diagrams,
the effect of temperature on the kinetic energy of molecules, absolute zero
temperature
Performance Objective / Content Standards: Chemistry 4a, 4b 4f, 4g; Physics 3c
Students relate macroscopic properties of matter (is it solid, liquid, or gas) to its
microscopic properties (kinetic energy of the molecules, random motion of molecules).
Students understand how changing the temp (and pressure) of matter changes its
microscopic properties and therefore changes its macroscopic properties.
Students understand what a temperature of absolute zero means, and that there is no
temperature lower than 0 Kelvin
Students are introduced to the phase diagram as an easy way to predict the state of a
given material at a particular T and P
Students understand that Brownian motion and diffusion are caused by random motion of
molecules
Materials and Equipment:
computer with web access for online simulations.
materials for diffusion demo: glass container for water, clear water, water colored with
dye.
Independent practice / Assignments:
1. Explore the online animations.
2. Observe and explain the phenomenon of diffusion.
3. Answer questions on worksheet.
Outline of Lesson:
(1) Warm-up/Dispatch Activity (activity for students to work on while you are taking
role)
Have students fill in a table that describes the differences between ice, water and water
vapor.
property
temperature
shape
ice
water
steam
....
(2) Introduction. How does today's lesson relate to past lessons?
We know that the type of matter depends on chemical composition. (e.g. H2O, He, Fe)
In this lesson, we see what determines the state of matter, i.e. whether it's a solid, liquid
or gas.
Define the words kinetic, macroscopic and microscopic in terms of their roots.
(3) Lecture/discussion (explanation of concepts; direct instruction).
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lecture notes: refer to page numbers in your lecture note book. * see below
diagrams (phase diagrams)
handouts (Activity worksheet) ** see below
reference pages in textbook
(4) Activities

small group work
o explore online simulations
o diffusion activity
(5) Summary (provide closure for the lesson.)
1. What is kinetic theory/particle theory
2. Examples of phenomena that this theory explains

Brownian motion

diffusion

different states of matter at different temperatures

absolute zero temperature
Homework:
Finish independent practice, (answer questions on worksheet)
Readings: cite relevant pages in textbook, for help with answering questions on
worksheet
References:
Zumdahl, S.S. Zumdahl, S. A. Chemistry. 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company. New
York: 2000
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*Lecture Notes:
1. Call on students, randomly, to fill out the table they started during warm-up activity.
property
temperature
shape
pressure exerted
ice
water
steam
Discuss the difference between the different states of water.
2. We explain the different states of matter using particle theory/kinetic theory - it
postulates that matter is actually made up of microscopic particles that are in motion.
Have students watch online animation about the properties of the different states of
matter: http://glory.gc.maricopa.edu/~ksmith/statesmovie.mov.
Have students add more rows to their tables:
distance between
molecules
speed of molecules
interaction between
molecules
kinetic energy of
molecules
3. Discuss the molecular properties of the different states. Relate to kinetic energy molecular motions determine the state of the matter. When molecules are moving they
have kinetic energy (energy of motion.) The higher the temperature, the more kinetic
energy the molecules have. Have the students explore the online simulation, showing the
relationship between microscopic and macroscopic properties and temperature:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/states_of_matter/. Explain that absolute zero (in
Kelvins) is when there is no molecular motion.
4. Show phase diagram for water. Explain.
Phase diagrams are different for different materials. Boiling temperatures are different.
Melting temps are different. Why? It depends on how "sticky" the molecules are, i. e.
how strong the attractive forces between the molecules are. Ask students to predict how
the phase diagram for another substance (e.g. carbon) would be different from that of
water.
Show the two different phase diagrams of water and carbon to compare and contrast.
5. How do we know kinetic theory/ particle theory is a good model for matter? It explains
all the phenomena we observe. Historically, the first phenomenon it explained was
Brownian motion. (In fact it was Einstein's explanation for Brownian motion.)
What is Brownian motion? It is the random movement of particles suspended in a liquid
or a gas. An example of Brownian motion is the hovering motion of dust particles in air
(you can see the dust particles easily in a flashlight beam).
Show students the following online simulation:
http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/brownian/brownian.htm
l. Explain Brownian motion and how it relates to diffusion.
7. Have students do diffusion activity. Ask them to explain it in terms of motion of
molecules. Ask them to relate it to Brownian motion- Brownian motion is one particle
taking a random walk (because it is being bombarded by the particles of the gas/liquid)
Diffusion happens when a lot of particles take a random walk.
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** Worksheet
Three States of Matter
1. Draw a microscopic view of
a) a gas b) a liquid c) a solid
2. Compare and contrast the macroscopic and microscopic properties of solids, liquids
and gases
3. Explain how you can turn a solid into a liquid. How many ways are there to do this?
4. How can you turn a gas into a liquid?
5. Explain diffusion using Brownian motion. What are some examples of diffusion that
you have seen in your own life.
6. Wet your hand, then blow on it. What do you feel? Why?