States of Matter: Basics

States of Matter: Basics Screenshot
  • Atoms
  • Molecules
  • States of Matter
Java Logo Original Sim and Translations

Topics

  • Atoms
  • Molecules
  • States of Matter

Description

Heat, cool and compress atoms and molecules and watch as they change between solid, liquid and gas phases.

Sample Learning Goals

  • Describe characteristics of three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas.
  • Predict how varying the temperature or pressure changes the behavior of particles.
  • Compare particles in the three different phases.
  • Explain freezing and melting with molecular level detail.
  • Recognize that different substances have different properties, including melting, freezing and boiling temperatures.
Version 1.1.8

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro		 MC Physics
Using PhET in High School Chemistry- all my activities in pdf A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS		 Demo
HW
Lab		 Chemistry
Intermolecular Forces and Molecules - Interactive Lecture Demonstration A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Ted Clark, Julia Chamberlain UG-Intro Demo Chemistry
Concept Questions for Chemistry using PhET A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein MS
UG-Intro
HS		 MC Chemistry
States of Matter Basics A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein MS
HS		 Lab
Demo		 Chemistry
States of Matter Basics - Clicker Questions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Robert Parson, Trish Loeblein UG-Intro MC Chemistry
Intermolecular Forces and States of Matter - Interactive Lecture Demonstration A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Ted Clark, Julia Chamberlain UG-Intro Demo Chemistry
States of Matter PhET A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Mahoney Mahoney MS Lab Chemistry
Physics
Chemistry Theater A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. UTeach Middle School PhET Team K-5
MS		 Lab Chemistry
Phases of Matter A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Dr. Wendy Adams MS
HS
UG-Intro		 Lab Physics
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? This contribution was designed by PhET. Sarah Borenstein MS Other Earth Science
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López HS
MS		 Other Chemistry
Physics
Earth Science
Biology
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment Elyse Zimmer HS
MS		 Other Chemistry
Physics
Biology
States of matter simulations Joko Susilo HS
MS		 Discuss
HW
Lab
Demo
Guided
MC		 Chemistry
Physics
States of Matte Inquiry Jeff Drach HS
MS		 Guided Chemistry
Gas laws simulation lab Dan Maley MS
HS		 Lab Chemistry
Physics
ChemActivity: Phase Changes and Intermolecular Forces Mary van Opstal UG-Intro
HS		 Guided Chemistry
States Of Matter Craig Reuter HS Lab Chemistry
Physics
Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López UG-Adv
Grad
UG-Intro
MS
HS
K-5		 HW
Discuss		 Astronomy
Chemistry
Mathematics
Physics
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López HS
MS		 Other Chemistry
Mathematics
Physics
Biology
PRIMARIA: Alineación con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López MS
K-5		 HW
Demo
Lab
Discuss
Guided		 Astronomy
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Undersøgelse til Stoftilstande Basis Marie Moustesgaard MS HW
Guided		 Physics
Termodinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales MS
HS
UG-Intro
Other		 HW
Lab
Other
Guided
Demo		 Other
Physics
Earth Science
Lei Geral dos Gases no "States of Matter: Basics (HTML5)" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales Other
MS
HS		 HW
Guided
Other		 Earth Science
Other
Physics
Mathematics
Estados da Matéria no "States of Matter: Basics (HTML5)" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales MS
Other
HS		 HW
Guided
Other		 Physics
Earth Science
Other

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iPad:
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iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Yuen-ying Carpenter (lead designer, HTML5)
  • Amy Rouinfar (lead designer, HTML5)
  • Paul Beale (lead designer, Java)
  • Sarah McKagan (lead designer, Java)
  • Emily Moore (lead designer, Java)
  • Noah Podolefsky (lead designer, Java)
  • John Blanco (lead developer)
  • Aaron Davis (developer)
  • Aadish Gupta (developer)
  • Wendy Adams
  • Jack Barbera
  • Amy Hanson
  • Kelly Lancaster
  • Ariel Paul
  • Kathy Perkins
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