Particles

     The main ideas we learned this past week were the states of matter and their energies. This week we focused on proving that particles move and that hot particles move faster than cold particles. These two main ideas go together because learning about particles helps us learn more about states of matter and their energies. Some important details of the main ideas are that the  three states of matter, solids liquids and gasses, move differently. Solids move in a constricted, aligned formation. Liquids move with more fluidity and then gas moves even more freely. We did two experiments this past week, one called The Popcorn Experiment and The Dye Experiment. We also watched a series of short videos on the particles of solids liquids and gasses.

  The Popcorn Experiment-
The popcorn experiment was an experiment to prove that particles or molecules moved. The first thing we did was have Dr. Finnan pop a bag of popcorn. Then he went into the corner of the room and opened the bag of popcorn. He told us to raise our hand when we smelled the popcorn. Since I was very close to Dr. Finnan and the popcorn bag I was one of the first people to smell the popcorn. Over time everyone in the class raised their hand. This proves that gas particles moved, because the gas particles moved from in the popcorn bag to across the classroom. To make sure the popcorn particles weren't being pushed by any outside forces Dr. Finnan closed the doors and turned the fan off. Because gas particles move so fast it allowed the smell to travel relatively quickly throughout the class room. Then my group white boarded the popcorn traveling around the room.

Our group's whiteboard representation of The Popcorn Experiment

 The Dye Experiment-
The Dye Experiment was an experiment to prove that particles or molecules that are heated move faster than particles that are cold. The first thing we did was fill to vials with green food coloring and two beakers with water. The first beaker should be filled with hot water and the second beaker should be filled with cold water. Then you put the green dye in both of the beakers. We noticed that the green dye in the beaker with the cold water mixed in slower that the beaker with the hot water. This proves that hot water particles move faster than cold water particles because the green dye mixed faster in the hot water. My group then white boarded the experiment. We used the technique called story board where we drew the representation of four different stages in the experiment.

Dye just added to hot and
 cold water

Our group's story board
 whiteboard representation 

Hot and cold water after given time to mix

 Reflection-
We came to know and understand the ideas we learned this week through experiments and watching short videos about the ideas we focused on in the experiments. I don't have any pressing questions this week because in previous science classes we learned about the stages of matter. I think my participation in class this week was very good. I think I was focused and on task. I would rate myself a 9 out of ten on the ideas we learned last week because I understand them very well.  My ideas have changed because now I know about the particle differences between solids, liquids and gasses.