Kinetic particle model of matter

About this lab: Kinetic particle model of matter

Interactive simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter: animated particles in a solid, liquid and gas with a comparison table, a smoke particle jostled by invisible air molecules in the Brownian motion smoke cell, a rigid box of gas whose wall collisions and pressure gauge rise with kelvin temperature, a piston squashing gas to show Boyle's law pV = constant with a plotted curve, a heated bar and bimetallic strip for thermal expansion, and side-by-side Celsius and kelvin scales with absolute zero.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topic 2.1 (and temperature scales from 2.2). Solids, liquids and gases, Brownian motion, gas pressure with temperature, Boyle's law, thermal expansion and the Celsius and kelvin scales.

Kinetic particle model of matter is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 2 Thermal physics, sections 2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter, 2.2 Thermal properties and temperature). The same ideas are examined in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 (topic 1 States of matter). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 6 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 2.1.1 Know the distinguishing properties of solids, liquids and gases
• 2.1.1 Know the terms for the changes in state between solids, liquids and gases (gas to solid and solid to gas transfers are not required)
• 2.1.2 Describe the particle structure of solids, liquids and gases in terms of the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles and represent these states using simple particle diagrams
• 2.1.2 Describe the relationship between the motion of particles and temperature, including the idea that there is a lowest possible temperature (−273 °C), known as absolute zero, where the particles have least kinetic energy
• 2.1.3 Describe qualitatively, in terms of particles, the effect on the pressure of a fixed mass of gas of: (a) a change of temperature at constant volume (b) a change of volume at constant temperature
• 2.2.1 Describe, qualitatively, the thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases at constant pressure
• 2.2.2 Know that a rise in the temperature of an object increases its internal energy
• 2.2.3 Describe melting and boiling in terms of energy input without a change in temperature
• Lessons on this topic: States of matter: solids, liquids, gases, Particle arrangement, motion, and Brownian motion, Gas pressure in terms of particle collisions, Temperature scales: Kelvin and Celsius, Boyle's Law: pV = constant.

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 2.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. States of matter.
2. 2. Brownian motion.
3. 3. Gas pressure and temperature.
4. 4. Boyle's law.
5. 5. Thermal expansion.
6. 6. Temperature scales.
7. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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