Name:

Period:

Open the following simulation: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/states-of-matter/latest/states-

of-matter_en.html

1. Select “Phase Changes”

2. What atoms & molecules are you exploring in this simulation? Identify which are atoms
and which are molecules.

3. What temperature are each of the atoms & molecules starting at? (In other words, where
is the thermometer in the sim and what units is it in?) Fill out the table below:

Atom & molecule Starting temperature (K)

4. Starting with neon, how do you add more particles?

5. Several things happen as you add more particles, what are they?
a. Temperature: (Include initial and final temperatures)

b. Describe what happens to the particles as you add more particles:

c. On the right hand side is a diagram called “phase diagram”, what is happening to
the red dot as you add more particles?

d. Pressure:

e. Do you think this was a phase change? Why or why not?

Created by Cheryl Moy for CFS 2021

 6. Reset the simulation by clicking on the orange circle with a white arrow inside of it.
7. Select argon

8. What are other ways in which you can change the phase of argon without adding more
particles?

9. Reset the simulation, select argon again and pick one of the ways above that you can
change the phase of argon:

10. In addition to the phase changing, what happens to the…

a. Temperature:

b. Particles:

c. Red dot on the phase diagram:

d. Pressure:

e. What made you think a phase change was happening?

11. Reset the simulation, select oxygen

12. Heat the particles to 298 K. What temperature is that in fahrenheit? In Celsius? The
temperature equations we used T1 are provided for you below.

Created by Cheryl Moy for CFS 2021

 13. Do the oxygen particles in the simulation represent what you know about oxygen’s
phase at ______ Fahrenheit/298 K? Why or why not?

14. Where is the red dot in the phase diagram image of the simulation?

15. Take into account the exploration that you have just done with oxygen in the simulation:
given the following screenshots of the phase diagrams, what phase is each position of
the red dot? (How do you know? Describe the particles.)

Image Phase

Created by Cheryl Moy for CFS 2021

 16. Reset the simulation (orange circle on the bottom right)
17. Select “adjustable attraction” as the atom & molecule
18. Keeping the slider on the far right at “strong” Interaction Strength, increase the
temperature.
19. Reset the simulation
20. Select “adjustable attraction” as the atom & molecule
21. Slide the slider to the far left at “weak”, increase the temperature.
22. Describe what happens to the simulation when Interaction Strength is “weak” compared
to when the Interaction Strength was “strong”. Feel free to reset the simulation and
repeat steps 16 - 21.

23. Explore the simulation on your own some more, we haven’t done water yet.

24. Take into account the exploration that you have just done with “adjustable attraction” in
the simulation.
a. Between the neon and argon, which has the stronger interactions? Why? Use
examples from the simulation to support your answer. (Provide screenshots
here!) *Hint: take both particles to the same temperature.

b. Between water and oxygen, which has the strong interactions? Why? Use
examples from the simulation to support your answer. (Provide screenshots
here!)

25. What are some similarities and differences between neon and argon?

Created by Cheryl Moy for CFS 2021

 26. What are some similarities and differences between oxygen and water?

Created by Cheryl Moy for CFS 2021