THERMAL PHYSICS

Day 1: Starter Activity

Starter Activity Questions
• Explain different states of matter.
• How significant they are different from each other.
 Solid, Liquid and Gas
Draw the arrangement of particles in solid, liquid and gas

Solid Liquid Gas

Solid, Liquid and Gas
How do they move?
 How do they move?

Vibrate in a fixed Vibrate vigorously Move freely,

position and can move past collide with wall
each other and each other
IGCSE Objectives – 2023 -2025 syllabus
• Describe the particle structure of solids, liquids and gases
in terms of the arrangement, separation and motion of the
particles, and represent these states using simple particle
diagrams.
• Know that the forces and distances between particles
(atoms, molecules, ions and electrons) and the motion of
the particles affects the properties of solids, liquids and
gases.
• Know the distinguishing properties of solids, liquids and
gases.
• Know the terms for the changes in state between solids,
liquids and gases (gas to solid and solid to gas transfers
are not required)
Vocabulary
Word Arabic Pronunciation

Particle ‫جسيم‬ jusim

solid ‫صلب‬ sulb

Liquid ‫سائل‬ sayil

Gas ‫غاز‬ ghaz

kinetic energy ‫الطاقة الحركية‬ altaaqat alharakia

 Differentiated Activity
Let’s try out this simulation!
Try:
1. Change the types of
particles
2. Change the states
of matter
3. Change the heat

Note what is happening with the movement of particles

https://
phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/states-of-matter-basics/latest/states-of-matter-basics_all.ht
ml
I observe...
Describe what you saw or
what happened?
Differentiated text Questionnaires
• Level 1
• A solid has a definite ______ and _______
• A liquid has a definite _______but takes the shape of its container.
• A gas will expand to fill all the _______available.
• Level 2
• Explain solid in terms of its particle arrangement.
• Explain liquid in terms of its particle arrangement.
• Explain gas in terms of its particle arrangement.
• Level 3
• To measure the volume of a liquid, you can pour it into a measuring
cylinder. Measuring cylinders come in different shapes and sizes
such as tall, short, wide, narrow etc.
Explain why the shape of the cylinder does not effect the
measurement of volume.
Matter physical substance in general, that which
occupies space and possesses mass. Matter is
commonly classified as below,
Extended - distinguishing properties of solids, liquids and
gases

• In solids, the molecules are close together and each molecule

vibrates to and fro about a fixed position.
• Solid have definite shape and volume.
• Molecules in a solid could be arranged in a regular, repeating
pattern.
• In Liquids, the molecules are slightly further apart than in
solids but still close enough together to have a definite volume.
• In Gases, the molecules are much farther apart than in solids
or liquids and much less dense and can be squeezed into a
smaller space. It has no definite shape or definite volume.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21CR01rlmv4
Plenary Questions : Copy and complete it.

Intermolecular Movement
States of Molecular Kinetic
S.No. force of of
matter arrangement Energy
attraction molecules

Vibrational
1 Solid Closely packed Strong Minimum
movement

Free to
2 Liquid Loosely packed Weak move within More
the space

Very loosely
3 Gases Very weak Random maximum
packed
Merryland
Skill Wheel
Simple kinetic molecular model of matter
• Matter is made up of smallest particles called molecules.
Ex: H2O, CaO.
• Molecules contain even smaller particles called atoms.
Ex: H2 , O , Ca, O.
• They can be analyzed by electron microscope.

• Movement of atoms can be analyzed by the concept of

Brownian motion.
Kinetic theory of matter
• As atoms being in continuous motion, they exert strong
electric forces when they are close together.
• These forces are both attractive and repulsive.
• Attractive force hold molecules together and repulsive
force cause matter to resist compression.
• Kinetic theory can be used to explain the existence of
solid, liquid and gas.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2qM4o8e_Vo
Property of particles Solid Liquid Gas

Motion Vibrate in mean position Move freely within Random, haphazard

with restricted motion the given space energetic motion

Average kinetic Least average kinetic More Maximum average

Energy energy kinetic energy

Intermolecular Least More Maximum

Space
between particles

Binding force Strongest Strong Weak

between particles

Compression Not compressible Compressible Easily compressible

Shape Definite shape Takes the shape of No shape

the container

Volume Definite volume Definite volume No fixed volume

• Electron microscope
 Brownian Motion
• Gas molecules are at constant, random, hap hazard and
energetic motion- colliding with each other and the walls
of the container. This elastic collision causes a change in
momentum every unit area on the walls of the container
and hence pressure is created on the walls of the
container – this motion is called as Brownian motion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDj7BXA1CHU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygiCHALySmM
http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/more_stuff/Applets/Brownian/brownian.html
Brownian Motion: evidence of
moving particles
The smoke bits wobble about in a
zig-zag motion.
This is called Brownian Motion.

The bits of smoke is jostled about

as thousands of particles (gas
molecules) in the surrounding air
bump into them at random
Brownian motion experiment using
pollen grains in water
The kinetic model of matter –observations:
• Liquids take up the shape of their container, because their particles are free
to move about within the bulk of the liquid. • Gases fill their container,
because their particles can move freely about.

• Solids retain their shape, because the particles are packed tightly together.

• Most solids expand when they melt. The particles are slightly further apart in
a liquid than in a solid.

• Liquids expand a lot when they boil. The particles of a gas are much farther
apart than in a liquid. We can think about this the other way round. Gases
contract a lot when they condense. If all of the air in the room you are now
in was cooled enough, it would condense to form a thin layer of liquid, two
or three millimetres deep, on the floor.
Have you learned about to……
• Know that microscopic particles may be moved by
collisions with light fast-moving molecules and correctly
use the terms atoms or molecules as distinct from
microscopic particles