Kinetic Theory
Overview
Stand a pan of crushed ice on a hot ring with a thermometer in it and watch the reading. It climbs to zero and then it stops. The ring is still glowing, the ice is visibly turning to water, joules are pouring in at hundreds every second, and the number on the thermometer refuses to move. It stays there for minutes. Only when the last sliver of ice has gone does the reading start to rise again, and later, at one hundred, it stalls a second time and stays stalled while the pan boils dry. Two flat stretches in one heating, and in both of them energy is arriving with nothing to show for it on the scale.
Nothing has gone missing. This lesson shows you where those joules went, and it hands you a way of reading any temperature against time graph as a story about particles: how far apart they are, how fast they move, and how tightly they are held to one another. You will compare the three states in one model, define specific heat capacity and put numbers into the equation that goes with it, learn why an impurity shifts a melting point, and finish by designing a cooling investigation of your own. One part of the topic belongs to the Extension Tier alone and is marked as such where it appears, so you will always know which paragraphs your own paper can ask you about.
Objectives
- Kinetic theory can be used to explain the different states of matter and their properties. The particles in solids, liquids and gases have different amounts of energy. Students should be able to recognise, use and compare simple diagrams to represent key features of solids, liquids and gases.
- The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy required to change the temperature of one kilogram of the substance by one degree Celsius. The relationship between energy, E, mass, m, specific heat capacity, c, and temperature change, ∆θ, is:
- The specific latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is the amount of energy required to change the state of one kilogram of the substance from a liquid to a vapour with no change in temperature. The relationship between energy, E, mass, m, and specific latent heat of vaporization, LV , is:
- The specific latent heat of fusion of a substance is the amount of energy required to change the state of one kilogram of the substance from a solid to a liquid with no change in temperature. The relationship between energy, E, mass, m, and specific latent heat of fusion, LF , is:
- The melting point of a solid and the boiling point of a liquid are affected by impurities. Throughout Section 3.19, students should be able to explain the shape of the temperature-time graph for a substance that is either cooled or heated through changes in state.
Mind map
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Kinetic Theory. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which statement describes the particles in a liquid? A. Held in fixed positions in a regular arrangement B. In contact with one another but free to slide past each other C. Widely separated and moving quickly in random directions D. Widely separated and held in fixed positions Answer: B
- What is the unit of specific heat capacity? A. J B. J/kg C. J/kg degC D. degC/J Answer: C
- The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg degC. How much energy is needed to raise the temperature of 2.0 kg of water from 15 degC to 35 degC? A. 42 000 J B. 84 000 J C. 168 000 J D. 294 000 J Answer: C
- A pure substance is heated steadily and its temperature stays constant for several minutes. Which statement is correct for that period? A. No energy is being transferred to the substance B. The energy transferred is increasing the average speed of the particles C. The energy transferred is separating the particles as the substance changes state D. The energy transferred is being destroyed Answer: C
- A salt is dissolved in a sample of pure water. What happens to the melting point and the boiling point of the sample? A. Both are raised B. Both are lowered C. The melting point is lowered and the boiling point is raised D. The melting point is raised and the boiling point is lowered Answer: C
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