Intermolecular Forces and States of Matter - Interactive Lecture Demonstration A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines.


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Title Intermolecular Forces and States of Matter - Interactive Lecture Demonstration
Description This interactive lecture demonstration has the following learning goals - Students will be able to: (a) Distinguish between kinetic energy (KE), potential energy (PE) and total energy; (b) Apply the terms low and high PE for objects attracted to each other; (c) Identify electrostatic interactions as the force affecting the PE of atoms and molecules; (d) apply the terms low and high PE for atoms attracted to each other, resulting in bonds with different bond enthalpies; (e) Describe, at the particle-level, what happens during a phase change; (f) Apply the terms KE and PE for states of matter; (g) Connect particle-level descriptions of matter, including different phases, with macroscopic observations/properties.
Subject Chemistry
Level Undergrad - Intro
Type Demonstration
Duration 60 minutes
Answers Included No
Language English
Keywords bonding, density, electrostatic force, energy, kinetic energy, phase change, potential energy, states of matter
Simulation(s) Atomic Interactions (HTML5), Atomic Interactions, Energy Skate Park, States of Matter (HTML5), States of Matter, States of Matter: Basics (HTML5), States of Matter: Basics


Author(s) Ted Clark, Julia Chamberlain
School / Organization PhET
Date submitted 11/5/14
Date updated 12/28/16