Intro

Hello bloggers! Welcome back to another blog post. For science, we have been doing experiments about how particles move and the effects of heat, using conduction, convection, contraction and diffusion. What are particles? Particles are small matter that is made up of everything, even us! Matter is solid, liquid and gas. Solid has a fixed shape and volume. The particles inside cannot slide past each other. Liquid doesn’t have a fixed shape, but has a fixed volume. The particles inside can slide past each other and it takes up the shape of the container. Lastly, gas does not have a fixed shape or volume. The particles are everywhere and fill up the whole shape of the container.

Conduction (Dropping Pins) 

Conduction is when particles in a solid vibrate and transfer thermal energy to nearby particles.

For the dropping pins experiment we observed how the metal rod was conducting the jelly. Along the way the metal rod was transferring thermal energy to the petroleum jelly rapidly, because metal is a better conductor to transfer energy to nearby particles more faster than insulators like plastic. Plastic transfers thermal energy slowly. That is because as the metal rod was conducting the jelly, the particles are bumping to each other as it is getting heated and vibrating more swiftly. 

The key learning of this was to observe that when heat is transferred to an object, the particles of the object starts to vibrate rapidly.

Convection (Convection)

Convection is when a warmer less dense liquid or gas rises up and a cooler more dense liquid or gas will sink down.

For this experiment we observed that the liquid closest to the heat would rise to the top, while the liquid farther from the heat, it would sink. That is because when the particles are heated it rises to the top, for the other particles that sink down to the bottom, those particles can also get heated. The cycle repeats.

The key learning of this was to watch how the particles move when contacted with heat.

Contraction (Crushing Can)

Contraction is when particles vibrate slower and move closer together, unless thermal energy is removed, causing solids, liquids and gases to contract when cooled. 

In this experiment I noticed the can of water had the same amount of air pressure inside and outside the can. When it was heated and steaming. The water particles in the can form a gas because when the water starts to boil, the particles start to expand and force the air out of the can. Once it is steaming, dip the can in cool water. The steam inside instantly condenses into liquid water, to prevent new air coming in and liquid takes less space. The can is also crushed, having less air pressure inside compared to the outer of the can.

The key learning of this was the particles went from being hot to going cold, because the cold water got rid of the thermal energy.

Diffusion (Diffusion)

Diffusion is when particles from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration until they are spread out evenly. 

In the experiment I saw that the coffee diffused and dissolved quickly in the hot water because the particles in the hot water vibrated rapidly. Compared to the cold water, the coffee diffused and dissolved less quickly. The particles in the cold water did not have any thermal energy, so the coffee moved more slowly, unlike the coffee in the hot water.

The key learning of this was how the particles of the coffee moved from high concentration to a low concentration of the liquid.

Favourite and Least Favourite Experiment

My most favourite experiment was the contraction experiment, because it was fun and I was pretty satisfied watching the can get crushed. My least favourite experiment was the diffusion experiment, because I dislike it very much and it was pretty boring watching it diffuse, especially the coffee diffusing slowly in the cold water.