Particle Model

SolidLiquidGasParticlesKinetic Energy

🎯 Learning Objectives

1. Classify the Materials

Drag and drop the items into the correct state of matter.

Wood
Water
Carbon Dioxide
Coal
Petrol
Chlorine
Plastic Chair
Olive Oil
Iron
Copper
Milk

Solid

Liquid

Gas

2. Properties of States

Property Solid Liquid Gas
Shape Fixed Takes container shape Fills container
Volume Fixed Fixed No fixed volume
Compressibility Can't be compressed Can't be compressed Can be compressed
Density High Moderate Low
Flow Can't flow Flows slowly Flows quickly

3. The Particle Theory

All substances are made of particles in constant motion. The motion depends on the energy they possess.

Solid

  • ✅ Regular arrangement
  • ✅ Tightly packed
  • ✅ Vibrate at mean position
  • ✅ Very strong bonds

Liquid

  • ✅ Irregular arrangement
  • ✅ Close together (touching)
  • ✅ Flow / Slide past each other
  • ✅ Strong bonds

Gas

  • ✅ Very spaced out
  • ✅ Move randomly everywhere
  • ✅ High kinetic energy
  • ✅ Very weak bonds

4. Activity: Model Your Knowledge

Task A: Draw the Particle Diagrams

Use your mouse or finger to draw how particles are arranged in each state.

Solid
Liquid
Gas

Task B: Property & Behaviour Matrix

Complete the missing information for the three states of matter.

Feature Solid Liquid Gas
Density
Shape
Arrangement
Movement
Bonds

5. Modelling: The Concert Analogy

Visualizing the Concert Stages

STAGE Stage Front (Solid) Packed, barely moving Dancing Area (Liquid) Spaced out, flowing Exiting (Gas) Spreading everywhere

"Susan and Jeremy went to a concert. Initially, they were close to the stage which was packed (they only bobbed their heads). Then they moved to a spaced-out area to dance. Finally, at the end, everyone spread out in all directions."

Analysis Task

1. At what stage were they like a Solid?

2. At what stage were they like a Liquid?

3. At what stage were they like a Gas?

Discussion Points

Strength: It shows how density and freedom of movement change between states.

Weakness:

6. Plenary: Knowledge Check

1. Solids cannot be compressed.
2. Liquids have a definite shape.
3. Gas particles have strong bonds between them.
4. Particles in solids vibrate about a mean position.
5. Particles in liquid have a regular pattern.