Curriculum Portal

Select a course.

arrow_back

Particle model of mater

infoWhy this? This unit shows pupils how the particle model explains states of matter, density, internal energy and changes of state, helping them connect microscopic behaviour to observable phenomena.

scheduleWhy now? It is placed here so pupils can extend their understanding of heating from energy stores and transfers to what happens inside materials.

neurologyYou need to know

  • In a solid, particles are arranged in a regular or fixed pattern and vibrate about fixed positions.
  • In a liquid, particles are close together but arranged irregularly, and they can move past each other.
  • In a gas, particles are far apart, arranged randomly, and move rapidly in all directions.
  • Solids have a fixed shape and a fixed volume because strong forces hold their particles close together in fixed positions.
  • Liquids have a fixed volume but no fixed shape because their particles remain close together but can flow past each other.
  • Gases have no fixed shape or fixed volume because their particles have very weak forces between them and are far apart.
  • Density is mass per unit volume, and it is calculated using `density = mass \div volume`.
  • The units of density are usually kilograms per cubic metre, `kg/m^3`, or grams per cubic centimetre, `g/cm^3`.
  • Most solids are denser than liquids and gases because their particles are packed more closely together, while gases have very low density because their particles are far apart.
  • The temperature of a substance is related to the average kinetic energy of its particles.
  • Internal energy is the total kinetic energy and potential energy of all the particles in a substance.
  • Specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1 °C without changing state.
  • Specific latent heat is the energy needed to change the state of 1 kg of a substance at constant temperature.
  • During melting, freezing, boiling, condensing and sublimation, energy changes the potential energy of particles rather than the temperature of the substance.
  • A pure substance has a sharp melting point and boiling point, while impurities cause melting and boiling to happen over a range of temperatures.
  • On a heating or cooling graph, sloping sections show temperature change and flat sections show a change of state at constant temperature.
  • Gas particles move in rapid random motion and collide with each other and with the walls of their container.
  • Gas pressure is caused by gas particles colliding with the walls of their container and exerting a force on them.
  • For a fixed mass of gas at constant volume, increasing the temperature increases the pressure because particles move faster and collide more often and more forcefully with the container walls.
  • For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, pressure and volume are inversely proportional, so `pV = constant`.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Draw particle diagrams for solids, liquids and gases, showing the spacing, arrangement and motion of particles accurately.
  • Explain the properties of solids, liquids and gases by linking particle arrangement, particle energy and the strength of forces between particles.
  • Calculate density using `density = mass \volume`, choosing correct units and rearranging the equation when needed.
  • Measure the density of a regular solid by measuring its mass with a balance, calculating its volume from its dimensions, and using `density = mass \volume`.
  • Measure the density of an irregular solid by measuring its mass with a balance, finding its volume using water displacement, and using `density = mass \volume`.
  • Measure the density of a liquid by finding the mass of a known volume of liquid and using `density = mass \div volume`.
  • Interpret heating and cooling graphs by identifying temperature changes, changes of state, melting points and boiling points.
  • Calculate the pressure or volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature.
  • Explain how doing work on a gas increases its internal energy and can increase its pressure by making particles collide more frequently and forcefully with the container walls.


Revision Quiz

trophy Congratulations! You have completed the quiz.