States of water

States of water

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about the the states of matter for water.

      

The three states of matter are represented in the diagrams above.

a)  Identify the diagram that represents
   
i)
 
ii)
 
a solid __________
 
steam __________
 
b)
Name a substance that could be represented by diagram B. __________
 
c)
Explain why substances represented by diagram C can be compressed, but the others cannot.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
d)
Condensation is a change of state.
Complete the condensation equation below by putting one letter from the diagrams above (A, B, C) into each circle.

 

 

Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Material World
Keywords: 
particle nature of matter, water, states of matter, diagrams
Description of task: 
Students are given diagrams representing the three states of matter. Students answer four questions relating to these.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to idneitfy diagrams that represent states of matter for water.
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Answers/responses: 

  

Y10 (11/2002)
a) i)
ii)		 A
C		 very easy
b)   Any liquid, e.g., water. moderate
c)  

The particles in C are far apart.
The particles in C can be moved closer.
The particles in A and B are already close and can't get closer.

difficult
difficult
difficult
d)   moderate

 

Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error
d)

Percentage of students giving each answer.
C → B: 49%
C → A: 7%
A → B: 10%
A → C: 17%
Missing/No answer: 17%