Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics
26 – 50 of 61 Classroom Resources
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Electromagnetic Spectrum, Molecular Structure, Mixtures | Middle School, High School
Video: What are Pigments? Video
This video discusses the chemistry of pigment molecules and how they are used to give paints their specific color. Students will learn about the importance of a pigment’s molecular structure, how they are physically suspended to create a paint color, as well as how they interact with light.
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Mixtures, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Formula, Molecular Structure, Polymers, Electromagnetic Spectrum | Middle School, High School
Video: What is Paint? Video
This video investigates the composition of paint, while analyzing the fundamental chemistry principles of its main components. Students will learn about the differences between three common paint types, water colors, oil-based and acrylic paint as well as the chemistry of each.
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Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: Giant Toothpaste
In this demonstration, students will identify factors that indicate a chemical change has occurred while observing the production of giant toothpaste. This reaction uses simpler materials than those that are often used in the typical high school version of the Elephant’s toothpaste demonstration.
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Phase Changes, Photosynthesis, Renewable Energy | Elementary School, Middle School
Lab: Mini Terrarium
In this lab, students will learn that even the smallest spaces can have their own climate. They will create a miniature sized terrarium and will observe how sunlight enters in order to warm the air, and in turn heat the soil and seeds. Condensation will build up in the container and the students can observe the water cycle in action, as well as the growth of the seeds over time.
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Heat | Middle School
Demonstration: Hot Popcorn
In this demonstration, the teacher will pop popcorn using three different methods (a hot plate, a microwave, and an air popper) so that the students can experience and investigate three types of heat energy transfer: convection, conduction, and radiation.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature, Classification of Reactions | Middle School, High School
Lab: Determining Endothermic and Exothermic Reaction
In this lab, students will analyze evidence to determine if a chemical reaction releases energy and can be classified as an exothermic reaction or if it absorbs energy and can be classified as an endothermic reaction.
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Atomic Spectra, Emission Spectrum, Emission Spectrum, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Interdisciplinary, Identifying an Unknown | Middle School, High School
Lab: Spectral Detective
In this lab, students will use a spectroscope to view the atomic spectra of various unknown elements. Using their collected data in combination with known atomic spectra, they will identify the chemical elements.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Classification of Reactions, Energy Diagrams, Bond Energy, Activation Energy, Temperature, Chemical Change | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
In this simulation, students will evaluate the energy changes in an endothermic and an exothermic chemical reaction. Through the use of this simulation students will have the opportunity to compare how energy is absorbed and released in each reaction. Additionally, students will make a connection between the standard energy diagrams associated with each reaction type.
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Temperature, History, Accuracy, Physical Properties | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: The Temperature Guys Video
This video tells the story of how temperature as we currently know it evolved. The first thermometers invented in the early 1600s are very different than ones we use today!
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Heat of Combustion, Heat, Exothermic & Endothermic, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: The Internal Combustion Engine Video
This video investigates both the mechanical and the chemical processes used in the internal combustion engine, as well as the history and evolution of the combustion engine.
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Reduction, Oxidation, Redox Reaction, Catalysts, Activation Energy, Combustion | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Catalytic Converters Video
This video investigates the role of a catalytic converter and its corresponding chemical reactions within a vehicle. Students will learn about both oxidation and reduction reactions and how they, in combination with a catalyst, can impact the molecules released in a car’s exhaust.
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Electricity, Anode, Cathode, Galvanic Cells, Heat, Renewable Energy | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Alternative Fuels Video
This video analyzes alternatives to petroleum based fossil fuels, such as biofuels and hydrogen fuel cells.
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Heat, Temperature, Specific Heat, Observations, Molecular Motion | High School, Middle School
Activity: What Makes Something Feel Warm
In this lesson students actively engage in thinking about energy issues in chemistry and the nature of energy (thermal) transfer. The idea that temperature is a measure of heat content will be challenged, and students will be given the opportunity to collect data that will allow them to clearly see that different materials transfer energy at different rates.
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Temperature, Molecular Motion, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: What is Temperature?
In this demonstration, students will observe food dye mixing with water at different temperatures.
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Freezing Point, Phase Changes, Temperature, Physical Change | Middle School
Lab: Lemon Ice
This activity explores the interaction between salt and water (ice) as a way to further investigate their impact on the state of matter of a substance. Students will use salt and ice to create a slushy lemonade drink without the use of a freezer. They will learn through this hands-on experiment how salt and ice can rapidly cool a liquid.
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Conservation of Mass, Exothermic & Endothermic, Chemical Change, Heat, Temperature, Observations, Chemical Change | High School, Middle School
Lab: Kitchen Reaction
In this lab students will observe an endothermic chemical reaction involving baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid). Students will investigate the signs a chemical reaction has occurred (gas production, change in temperature). Students will perform the lab in an open system so they can see the change of mass due to gas production. This lab is a lead into the topic of conservation of mass. After the lab is completed, the teacher should do a demonstration of the exothermic reaction Hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide.
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Calorimetry, Specific Heat, Heat, Temperature | High School, Middle School
Lab: Understanding Specific Heat
In this lab, students will get a general idea of specific heat by investigating the mixing of two liquids at different temperatures. In one case, the same liquids will be mixed, in another case different liquids will be mixed.
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Radiation, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Radiation | Middle School, High School
Lab: The Most Effective Sunscreen
In this lab, students will research and compare the effectiveness of various SPF levels in sunscreen lotions. The lotion’s ability to block UV (ultraviolet) radiation from the sun will be tested using a UV bead detector.
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Heating Curve, Phase Changes, Intermolecular Forces, Freezing Point, Melting Point, Boiling Point, Heat of Fusion, Heat of Vaporization , Molecular Motion, Temperature, Heat, Specific Heat | High School, Middle School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Heating Curve of Water
In this simulation, students will investigate qualitatively and quantitatively what happens as water changes states.
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Temperature, History, Interdisciplinary, Chemical Change, Temperature, Heat | Middle School, High School
Lab: Greenhouse Gas Simulation
In this lab, students will create two simulations of the Earth’s atmosphere. They will compare a control model with a one that has an increased presence of carbon dioxide gas in order to analyze how this effects temperature. They will also complete research in order to learn more about the makeup of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Reaction Rate, Graphing, Temperature, Concentration | High School, Middle School
Lab: Starch-Iodine Clock Reaction
In this lab, students perform an iodine clock reaction to determine how concentration and temperature effect the reaction rate.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Enthalpy, Calorimetry, Observations, Inferences | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Energy in Hot and Cold Packs
In this demonstration, students will observe temperature changes in chemical hot and cold packs and discuss processes of endothermic and exothermic changes. They will also see that common household products can be used to make a hot and cold pack.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Physical Change, Temperature, Freezing Point, Boiling Point | High School, Middle School
Demonstration: Energy
In this demonstration, students will observe the exothermic and endothermic properties of state changes of substances with different freezing and boiling points.
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Renewable Energy, Conservation of Mass, Chemical Change, Volume, Pressure | Middle School, High School
Lab: Power That Stinks
In this lab, students will experiment with creating and capturing biogas, and have an opportunity to look at how energy is created from waste. They will explore the differences between non-renewable and renewable energy sources.
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Phase Changes, Sublimation, Physical Change, Density, Observations, Temperature | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Dry Ice
In this lesson, students will investigate how dry ice undergoes a phase change from solid to gas, skipping the liquid phase under normal temperature and pressure.