Phases of Water Gizmo, Activity A

To extend our study on Phases of Water, after reviewing the terms freezing, melting, boiling, evaporation, and condensation, we then completed a Phases of Matter Gizmo. After becoming acquainted with the Gizmo, students explored three activities to answer three essential questions. This post will focus on Activity A,  How does temperature affect the phase of water?

Students worked through a serious of steps. As they worked, they were able to gain or lose heat and watch as the temperature within a beaker went between -20 degrees Celsius and 120 degrees Celsius. There was a lid placed on the beaker to show how the water reacted as it changes phases. 

In this first slide, students were asked to find the temperature at which ice would melt. Students discovered that the ice began to melt at 0 degrees Celsius. Solid ice would then start to become a liquid.

 After all the ice was water, then students were asked to find the temperature at which the water in the beaker would begin to boil. They discovered at 100 degrees Celsius, the water would boil. They also noticed that as soon as the water boiled, the lid would begin lifting off the top of the beaker.

 They concluded that the boiling water was evaporating and changing into a gas, therefore the lid was lifting. 

 After setting the temperature at 120 degrees Celsius, the students were then challenged to find the temperature at which water vapor would begin to condense and turn back into liquid water. At 100 degrees Celsius, they saw this change occur.

 The temperature of the on-line simulation stayed at 100 degrees Celsius until all the water vapor was a liquid. 

The last task of Activity A was to find the temperature that water would freeze and become solid ice. At O degrees Celsius, they saw this phase change occur.  

 In Closing, we discussed the connections and added to our Phases of Water anchor chart. We also answered the essential question, How does temperature affect the phase of water?

When water gains heat or loses heat, it can create a change of phase. When the temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius, ice begins to melt. If the temperature of water reaches above 100 degrees Celsius, water will begin to boil. Boiling water begins to evaporate and become water vapor. When water vapor loses heat, the gas will condense and turn back into water droplets. If the liquid water cools to 0 degrees Celsius, the water will then begin to freeze.