A museum conservator compares particles in a solid amber bead and in molten amber. Fig. 1 is a simplified particle diagram. The same number of particles is ...
Question 1 Report
A museum conservator compares particles in a solid amber bead and in molten amber. Fig. 1 is a simplified particle diagram. The same number of particles is shown in each box. The conservator needs to know why the bead keeps its shape at room temperature but flows when heated for repair.
(a) Which box represents the state with particles arranged in a regular pattern? [1]
(b) What force holds particles close together in the solid? [1]
(c) Describe how the motion of particles changes as amber melts. [2]
Answer Details
(a) The solid amber box represents particles in a regular pattern. In a solid, particles are closely packed in a fixed, regular arrangement. [1]
(b) The particles are held close together by forces of attraction between particles. [1]
(c) As amber melts, its particles gain kinetic energy. [1] They no longer only vibrate about fixed positions: they can move or slide past one another, which allows the molten amber to flow. [1]
Exam reminder: melting does not mean particles themselves melt. Energy enables particles to overcome enough of the attractive forces for them to move around each other.
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