Physics·Thermal Physics · NSSCO 3.1
Particle nature of matter
Narrated lesson · press play
Everything around you is built from unimaginably tiny particles that are always moving. This one powerful idea — the kinetic particle model — explains solids, liquids and gases, the evidence that particles are real (Brownian motion), and even the pressure inside a tyre and why heating a sealed gas makes its pressure rise.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Physics 3.1):
- Explain the kinetic particle model of matter — particles and the space between them, the forces between particles, their constant random motion, elastic collisions, and an increase in kinetic energy as temperature rises
- Compare the arrangement, movement and forces of particles in solids, liquids and gases
- Describe the random (Brownian) motion of visible particles as evidence for the kinetic particle model, in terms of random molecular bombardment
- Interpret the temperature of a gas in terms of the motion of its molecules
- Describe qualitatively the pressure of a gas in terms of the collisions of its molecules with the container walls
- Describe qualitatively the effect of a change of temperature on the pressure of a gas at constant volume (the Pressure Law)
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Ms Elizabeth and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.