TOPIC: Thermal Physics
SUB-TOPIC: Kinetic particle model of matter
Date: 7th March, 2022
Objectives:
• Describe the particle structure of solids, liquids and gases in terms has a fixed size (its volume cannot change). Gas
of the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles, and
represent these states using simple particle diagrams
• Describe the relationship between the motion of particles and
temperature, including the idea that there is a lowest possible
temperature (−273 °C), known as absolute zero, where the
particles have least kinetic energy
• Describe the pressure and the changes in pressure of a gas in terms gas increases, the particles gain kinetic energy
of the motion of its particles and their collisions with a surface
• Know that the random motion of microscopic particles in a
suspension is evidence for the kinetic particle model of matter
Keywords- Pressure, temperature, Brownian motion, gas, solid, liquid pressure of the gas to increase.
Reference-
https://www.savemyexams.co.uk/igcse/physics/cie/20/revision-
notes/2-thermal-physics/2-1-simple-kinetic-molecular-model-of-
matter/2-1-5-pressure-changes/
The structure of solids, liquids and gases in terms of
particle separation arrangement and types of motion
●Gas: particles have the most energy. Since the particles
are the most spread apart, motion is more random and
frequent
● Liquid: particles have more energy than those in a solid,
but less than those in a gas
● Solid has least energy – particles are not moving, they
are just vibrating
Relationship between motion of particles and
temperature
Imagine a gas is trapped inside a container which
pressure is caused by the collisions of the gas
particles with the inside of the container as they
collide with and exert a force on the container
walls.
If the gas is heated up, as the temperature of the
and their speed increases. This means that the
particles hit off the sides more often and with
greater force. Both of these factors cause the
A temperature of absolute zero is the point at
which the gas particles stop moving. This
corresponds to a temperature of −273∘C. At this
temperature, particles have no kinetic energy at
all, so, no energy can be removed and the
temperature cannot get any lower. With no
kinetic energy and now stationary, the particles
will exert no pressure either.
Pressure and changes in pressure
The molecules in a gas move around randomly at
high speeds, colliding with surfaces and exerting
pressure upon them.
When the temperature of a gas is increased,
the speeds of the molecules increases. This
causes them to collide harder against
surfaces, increasing the pressure.
Increasing the temperature of a gas
(whilst keeping its volume fixed) will
increase the pressure.
● The higher the pressure, the more motion
of a gas’ particles
● The higher the temperature, the more
motion of a gas’ particles
Random motion of microscopic particles
● Particles in liquids and gases (known as
fluids) move randomly (this is called
Brownian motion)
● This happens because they collide with
other moving particles in the fluid
● This is evidence for the kinetic particle
model of matter- it shows that there are
individual particles which make up
solids/liquids/gases