PHYSICS Matters For GCE O' Level: Unit 9: Kinetic Model of Matter

PHYSICS Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level
Unit 9: Kinetic Model of Matter

9.1 The States of Matter
Learning Outcomes
In this section, you’ll be able to:
• Compare the properties of solids, liquids and
gases
• Describe the molecular structure of solids,
liquids and gases
• Describe Brownian motion
• Describe the effects of temperature on
Brownian motion
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• Water exists as a solid, liquid and gas.

• These are referred to as the three states of
water.
• Similarly, substances can exist in three states.
• The properties of a substance differ between
each states.
Table 9.1 Properties of solids, liquids and gases.
The Kinetic Model of Matter
• All matters are made up of tiny particles called

atoms or molecules (group of atoms joined
together)
• These particles are in constant motion.
• The continuous motion of these particles is
known as kinetic model of matter.
• This theory can explain the difference in
properties between each states.
Table 9.2 Properties of solids, liquids and gases
The kinetic model of matter
• The relative strengths of the intermolecular forces between the
particles differ between the different states of matter.
• The relative distances between the particles also differ between the
different states of matter.
Evidence of molecular motion
Evidence of molecular motion
• From Experiment 9.1, we see that smoke

particles in air move in a random and irregular
way.
• This is referred to as Brownian motion.
• Brownian motion occurs only in fluids where
the particles have the ability to flow or move
freely.
• Fluids include liquids and gases.
Effects of temperature on molecular motion
• At higher temperatures, the motion of smoke

particles will become more vigorous and
agitated.
• This is because the air molecules are
bombarding the smoke particles more
vigorously and frequently.
• The air molecules have greater speeds at
higher temperatures.
• The thermal energy is converted to kinetic
energy of air molecules, causing it to move
faster.
Key Ideas
1. All substances exist in three states of matter:
solid, liquid and gas.
2. The kinetic model of matter describes matter as
being made up of tiny particles (atoms or
molecules) in continuous motion.
3. Brownian motion is the random or irregular
motion of smoke particles in air or pollen grains in
water. When temperature increases, the smoke
particles or pollen grains are observed to move
faster and more vigorously.
4. Brownian motion is caused by the bombardment
of air molecules of smoke particles in air or water
molecules on pollen grains in water.
Test Yourself
1. Using the kinetic model of matter, explain
why the density of a gas is much lower than
that of a solid.
Answer:
• In solids, the particles (or atoms) are closely
packed.
• In gases, the particles are far apart.
• Since density is the mass per unit volume,
then solids must have a much higher density
since there are many more particles packed
closely together per unit volume compared to
gases.
Test Yourself
2. What is Brownian motion in air? What causes it?
Answer:
Brownian motion refers to the random,
irregular and jerky motion of smoke
particles in air.
The smoke particles are continually
bombarded unevenly on different sides by
air molecules. This results in the irregular
movement of the smoke particles.
Test Yourself
3. (a) As temperature is increased, how would
the movement of smoke particles in
Brownian motion change?
3. (b) What would you expect to see if the
smoke particles are much larger?
Answer:
3. (a) As temperature increased, the motion of
the smoke particles become more
vigorous and agitated.
3. (b) Larger smoke particles tend to have less
irregular and less jerky motion.
9.2 Pressure in Gases
Learning Outcomes
In this section, you’ll be able to:
• Explain the pressure of a gas in terms of its
molecular motion
• Recall the effects of changes in pressure,
volume and temperature of a gas and solve
related problems.
Motion of molecules and pressure
• Moving air molecules collides with the surface of the
wall of container and exerts a force on it.
• Since pressure is the force exerted per unit area, we
say can that the air molecules exert pressure on the
surface of wall.
Figure 9.10 Gas pressure is due to the bombardment of molecules on the wall.
Pressure-Temperature (p-T) relationship of
a gas
• Consider the air molecules inside a fixed volume
container with its temperature gradually
increased.
• The air molecules have greater speeds at higher
temperatures.
• The air molecules will then bombard the walls of
their container more vigorously and frequently.
• This causes an increase in pressure inside the
container.
Pressure-Temperature (p-T) relationship
of a gas
Figure 9.13 Kinetic model of gases can be used to explain why the
pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature. The diagrams
above show that the pressure of the gas doubles when the temperature
of the gas doubles (with volume kept constant).
Pressure-Temperature (p-T) relationship of a gas
• Hence, the pressure p of a fixed mass of gas is directly
proportional to its temperature T at constant volume.
p  T
Figure 9.12 p-T relationship of a gas
Volume-Temperature (V-T) relationship of a gas
• Consider the experimental set up in the diagram below.
• Increase in temperature causes the mercury marker to move up.
• This means that the volume of gas is expanding.

• When air is heated, the temperature rises causing the air
to move at higher speeds.
• This results in more frequent and violent collisions
between the gas molecules and the walls of a container.
• Hence, greater pressure is exerted.
• To keep the pressure constant, the gas will expand if it
can.
Figure 9.16 In general, the volume of a gas increases when it is heated.

• Hence, the volume V of a fixed mass of gas is directly
proportional to its temperature T at constant pressure.
V  T
Figure 9.15 V-T relationship of

a gas is explained by the
kinetic model of gases.
Pressure-Volume (p-V) relationship of a gas
• Consider the apparatus set up in Figure 9.17 below.
• The pressure of the gas inside the syringe is increased by
pushing the piston inwards to compress the gas.
• The reading of the pressure gauge increases.
Figure 9.17 Determining the p-V relationship of a gas at constant temperature.

• Hence, the pressure of a fixed mass of gas is p inversely
proportional to its volume at constant temperature.
1 k where k is a
p  or p  constant
V V
Therefore pV  k
Figure 9.18 Graph of p vs V is Figure 9.19 Graph of p vs 1/V is a

a smooth curve straight line
• The kinetic model of gases can be used to explain the
inverse relationship between pressure and volume.
Figure 9.21 Kinetic model of gases can be used to explain why the
pressure of gas is inversely proportional to volume.
• When the volume of the container is halved,
the number of molecules per unit volume will
be doubled.
• Frequency of collisions between molecules and
walls is doubled.
• Hence, pressure is doubled.
• If volume is reduced to one-third of original
volume, pressure is increased three times.
Key Ideas
1. Pressure in gases is due to the collision of
molecules with the walls of the container.
2. Using the kinetic model of gases, we can explain
that
- The pressure of a fixed mass of gas, p, is directly
proportional to its temperature T if its volume is
constant.
- The volume V of the gas increases proportionally
with the increase in temperature T while pressure
remains constant.
- The pressure of a fixed mass of gas, p, is
inversely proportional to the volume of the gas, V,
when the temperature T is held constant.
Test Yourself
1. Using the kinetic model of matter, explain
how air in a container exerts pressure on the
walls of the container.
Answer:
When air molecules hit the wall of the
container, they exert forces on the wall. The
average force per unit area acting on the wall
is the pressure.
Test Yourself
2. Using the kinetic model of matter, explain why the
pressure in a car tyre increases as a greater
volume of air is pumped in at constant temperature
Answer:
At the same temperature and the same volume of
the tyre, as more air is pumped into the tyre there
will be more air molecules hitting the walls of the
tyre. Hence the pressure is increased since there
are more frequent collisions of air molecules with
the wall.
Test Yourself
3. If a gas is heated in a cylinder such that the
pressure remains constant, describe any
change in the volume using the kinetic model
of matter.
Answer:
As temperature is increased, the gas
molecules move with higher speeds and thus
collide more violently and frequently with the
wall of container. This tends to increase the
gas pressure. To maintain constant pressure,
the gas must expand resulting in an increase
in volume.

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PHYSICS Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level

Unit 9: Kinetic Model of Matter

• Water exists as a solid, liquid and gas.

The Kinetic Model of Matter

• All matters are made up of tiny particles called

• From Experiment 9.1, we see that smoke

• At higher temperatures, the motion of smoke

Figure 9.12 p-T relationship of a gas

Volume-Temperature (V-T) relationship of a gas

Figure 9.16 In general, the volume of a gas increases when it is heated.

Figure 9.15 V-T relationship of

Figure 9.17 Determining the p-V relationship of a gas at constant temperature.

Pressure-Volume (p-V) relationship of a gas

Figure 9.18 Graph of p vs V is Figure 9.19 Graph of p vs 1/V is a

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