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Knowledge and Skills Statement

Matter and energy. The student knows that matter is made of atoms, can be classified according to its properties, and can undergo changes.

As an educator, it is helpful to understand kinetic energy more deeply. The kinetic energy of an object is proportional to its mass and increases with the square of its speed. Thermal energy is produced by the motion of the particles in a substance and the temperature of a substance is a measure of the average kinetic energy of its particles.

the smallest particle of matter that has distinct physical and chemical properties; consists of a nucleus which contains protons and neutrons and an electron cloud which contains electrons

the state of matter where particles are far apart and moving quickly, bouncing off each other and their container; have a specific mass but because the particles have so much energy, they expand to fill all available space

the energy caused by the motion of objects or particles within a system

the state of matter that has a specific mass and volume; takes the shape of its container; particles are loosely arranged, flow around, and bounce off each other

substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed of microscopic particles

a group of atoms that are chemically bonded to each other

characteristic of matter that can be used to identify particular materials

the state of matter that has a specific mass and volume; maintains its shape; particles are packed together tightly, vibrating in place

something arranged in a definite pattern of organization; the arrangement of particles or parts in a substance or body; the aggregate of elements of an entity in their relationships to each other

the amount of space that a substance or object occupies and is measured in cubic units such as liters; may be measured mathematically or by displacement

Research

Robertson, Bill. “Science 101.” Science and Children 46, no. 4 (December 2008): 56–59. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43175016.

Summary: This article explains what causes different states of matter. It explains how craft store plastic balls and adhesive magnets mimic how molecules behave in solids, liquids, and gases. Adding heat causes molecules to move faster and can cause matter to change into a gaseous state. Removing heat causes molecules to move slower, which can cause matter to change into a liquid and eventually a solid.