Science Interview
As discussed in class, you are given ten questions related to our Pure
Substances and Mixtures unit, which you will need to answer, using the
appropriate scientific language and the Particle Theory of Matter. You will
answer them orally in a one-on-one conversation with me. I will ask you two
of the ten questions on that sheet.
Learning Goal: To demonstrate my knowledge of Pure Substances and
Mixtures, using scientific vocabulary and the Particle Theory of Matter, in a
coherent manner.
Success Criteria:
- Answer the question using scientific language and the Particle
Theory of Matter
- Provide detailed enough answers to demonstrate your
understanding
- Make eye contact and speak confidently and coherently
You may use a sheet with jot-notes for the interview. HOWEVER, there may
not be more than 3 words in a row on your sheet. Full sentences are not
allowed.
Interview dates:
Tuesday, January 21(at lunch)
Wednesday, January 22 (at lunch and in Science class)
Science Interview Rubric
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 4
Comprehension
Interviewee
Interviewee
Interviewee
Interviewee
and
did not fully
understood
understood
understood the
Understanding
understand
the questions the questions
questions and
the questions and responded and responded
the answers
and was unable satisfactorily appropriately, were thorough
to answer
while giving an and exceptional
example
while giving
examples
Vocabulary
Limited use of Moderate use
Appropriate
Excellent use
and Using the
scientific
of scientific
use of
of scientific
Particle
language and
language and
scientific
language and
Theory of
the Particle
the Particle
language and
the Particle
Matter
Theory
Theory
the Particle
Theory
Theory
Communication
Difficult to
Interviewee
Interviewee
Interviewee
and Speaking
hear or
spoke
spoke clearly
spoke clearly,
Skills
understand
somewhat
and
coherently,
interviewee
clearly and
coherently
with
and there was
coherently
with good eye confidence, and
no eye contact with little eye
contact
constant eye
contact
contact
Elocution
Limited
Some variety
Good variety
Excellent
variety in
in pitch and
in pitch and
variety in pitch
pitch and most
some words
most words
and all words
words are
are
are
are pronounced
mispronounced
pronounced
pronounced
correctly.
correctly
correctly
List of Questions for Science Interview
1. How does heat affect the speed of particles and distance between
the particles?
2. Explain why a solid substance occupies less space than the substance
in gaseous form.
3. How does an increase in temperature account for the fact that
substances change state?
4. Explain the differences between pure substances and mixtures, using
the Particle Theory!
5. Explain how the particles in an ice cube differ from the particles in a
glass of water.
6. Explain why the particles of a liquid are able to pour into a container
and then take on the shape of that container.
7. Describe the changes in the state of matter when you light a wax
candle on a birthday cake and later blow it out.
8. Explain what happens to a potato chip bag as it warms in the heat of
the sun.
9. Explain why cooling a gas will eventually cause it to condense into a
liquid.
10. Ketchup appears to be uniformly red in colour and consistent in
texture, but it is classified as a mechanical mixture rather than a
solution.
List of Questions for Science Interview - Answers
1. How does heat affect the speed of particles and distance between
the particles?
Heat increases the speed of particles and increases the distance between
particles.
2. Explain why a solid substance occupies less space than the
substance in gaseous form.
The space between particles decreases so that the same number of particles
of a substance occupies less space overall.
3. How does an increase in temperature account for the fact that
substances change state?
An increase in temperature causes the particles of a substance to move
more rapidly. With continued heating, the forces between particles will be
overcome. At this point, the particles move farther apart and a change of
state occur.
4. Use the particle theory of matter to explain the differences
between pure substances and mixtures.
Pure substances are made up of only one type of particle. Gold, silver, and
salt are pure substances. Mixtures are made up of many different types of
particles. Most food and soft drinks are mixtures.
5. Explain how the particles in an ice cube differ from the particles
in a glass of water.
Water particles in ice (solid) are arranged in a specific pattern, whereas the
water particles in a glass of water (liquid) move around freely because they
are not attached.
6. Explain why the particles of a liquid are able to pour into a
container and then take on the shape of that container.
The forces of attraction between particles of a liquid are weaker than
between particles of the same substance in solid form. This allows the
particles to move more to fill the shape of their container.
7. Describe the changes in the state of matter when you light a wax
candle on a birthday cake and later blow it out.
Solid wax is changed to liquid with heat from the match used to light the
candle. Additionally, as the wax burns, its products of burning (ex. water and
carbon dioxide) change state to become a gas. When you blow out the candle,
the liquid becomes solid again.
8. Explain what happens to a potato chip bag as it warms in the heat
of the sun.
As the bag warms, the particles of air inside the bag begin to move more
quickly and bounce into the sides of the bag, causing the bag to expand.
9. Explain why cooling a gas will eventually cause it to condense into
a liquid.
As a gas cools, its particles move more slowly and come closer together. As
more and more energy is lost, the forces of attraction between particles
become greater, and eventually result in a change of state from gas to liquid.
10. Ketchup appears to be uniformly red in colour and consistent in
texture, but it is classified as a mechanical mixture rather than a
solution.
When viewed closely, ketchup is actually a heterogeneous mixture of many
substances including tomato parts, vinegar, water, and spices. Each of these
substances is made up of different types of particles with different
appearances. Solutions, on the other hand, are made up of different
substances with the same appearance throughout. Consequently, ketchup is a
mechanical mixture.