Phases of Water

Heat or cool a container of water and observe the phase changes that take place. Use a magnifying glass to observe water molecules as a solid, liquid, or gas. Compare the volumes of the three phases of water.

Launch Gizmo

Learning Objectives

Understand that, in normal conditions, water can exist in three different states.
Compare solids, liquids, and gases in terms of having a fixed shape or volume.
Describe the phase changes that occur when heat is added to or removed from water.
Compare the structure, spacing, and motion of molecules in solids, liquids, and gases.
Compare the volume and density of each phase. (Extension)
Notice that water is denser as a liquid than a solid. (Extension)

Vocabulary

boil, condense, density, freeze, gas, liquid, melt, molecule, phase, solid, volume

Lesson Materials

Student Exploration Sheet

MS Word PDF Google Doc

Exploration Sheet Answer Key

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Assessment Questions

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Teacher Guide

Instructors Only

Vocabulary Sheet

MS Word PDF

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