Phase Change Lab Notes

The Phase Change Lab interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays nicely on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. It's use on phones is at best questionable. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.

Our Phase Change Lab simulation provides a virtual environment for investigating the effect of the addition of heat on a sample of water. The simulation begins with a sample of solid water (aka, ice) at -100°C. As heat is added, the temperature is shown to increase. At 0°C, the ice begins melting. As the heat continues, the liquid water warms up to 100°C at which time the boling occurs. Finally, the temperature of the gas continues to increase once all liquid water is boiled.

The simulation provides a chance to collect data of temperature as a function of time. Temperatures are displayed in reall time and every 10 seconds, the temperature is reported and remains visible over the course of the next 10 seconds. The simulation assumes a constant rate of heating and relatively thorough distribution of the heat to the water. This results in realistic time frames for the temperature changes and statte changes that occur during the heating. Students can observe the intermolecular forces (color coded in cyan) in all three states and the type of particle movement in each state. The simulation can be paused. The intermolecular forces can be toggled on and off. Three buttons - titled Solids, Liquids, and Gases - can be tapped to control starting temperatures for the three states (-100°C, 0°C, and 100°C).

Classrooms can simply open the Interactive and explore the ideas. Or if desired, The Physics Classroom has prepared a student activity sheet for a more directed experience. The focus of the activity is to associated the particulate behavior of water molecules and the macroscopic observations of temperature increasing and staying constant (at phase transitions) with the addition of heat. Students make and record observations, collect and plot data of temperature and time, and answer analysis questions associated with the data and observation. View Activity Sheet.

Our Phase Changes simulation is now available with a Concept Checker that focuses on phase changes and heating curves. Do the simulation. Then follow it up with the Concept Checker.

You will find numerous activities and resources on our website that would complement this activity. Here are a few you may be interested in:

Chemistry Tutorial: Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Our Tutorial page on Solids, Liquids, and Gases discusses the macroscopic and particulate differences between solids, liquids, and gases. The various changes of state are also discussed.

Physics Tutorial: What Does Heat Do?
Our Tutorial page on What Does Heat Do? discusses the effect of the addition of heat upon temperature, phase, and particle behavior. Heating curves are discussed.

Concept Builder: States of Matter
Our States of Matter Concept Builder includes three activities that will provide awesome practice internalizing ideas associated with the physical states of matter. The first activity - Who Am I?- challenges learners to distinguish between the contrasting properties of solids, liquids and gases. The second activity - Changes of State - provides practice identifying the names of the six different state transitions involving solids, liquids, and gases. The third activity - Heating Curves - challenges learners to associated the regions of a heating curve with solids, liquids, and gases and the changes between them. Student progress is tracked and saved for Task Tracker classes.

Science Reasoning Center: Heating Curves
Our interactive Heating Curves science reasoning activity describes the state changes that occur in a sample of matter as it is heated from a temperature below its melting point to a temperature above its boiling point in a closed container. In addition to the two paragraphs describing the state changes, a heating curve graph is included. Questions target a student's ability to use the model presented in the body of text to interpret the graph, to connect information in the body of text to the graph, and to compare various points on the graph to one another in terms of the state of matter that is present and the process (state change or temperature increase) that is occurring. Student progress is tracked and saved for Task Tracker classes.

Calculator Pad Problem Sets: Problem Set TC6 - Heating Curves
Calculator Pad problem sets present mathematical challenges with randomly-generated numerical information. Students must use concepts and mathematics to solve a problem. Feedback regarding the answer is immediate and students have opportunities to correct their answers. In Problem Set TC6, students use a heating curve to relate the addition of energy over the course of time to temperature changes and phase changes. Student progress is tracked and saved for Task Tracker classes when teachers assign the task to classes.