Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics
1 – 25 of 55 Classroom Resources
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Observations, Physical Properties, Interdisciplinary, Review, Culminating Project, Balancing Equations, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Calorimetry, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Measurements, Law of Conservation of Energy, Chemical Properties, Enthalpy, Graphing | High School
Project: Handwarmer Design Challenge
In this project, students will use their knowledge of thermodynamics to design a handwarmer for a manufacturing company that can maintain a temperature of 30-40°C for at least 5 minutes and is designed for the average human hand. Students will create a final product after rounds of testing and an advertising poster that summarizes the results of their testing and promotes their design.
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Phase Changes, Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Heat of Combustion, Intermolecular Forces, Molecular Motion | High School
Lab: Investigating Condensation
In this lab, students will explore the phase change of condensation and determine whether this process is endothermic or exothermic. Students will then investigate how water vapor condenses, what effect surrounding temperature has on the rate of condensation, and what is happening to the molecules when they condense.
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Physical Properties, Polymers, Interdisciplinary, Lab Safety, Heat, Temperature, Molecular Structure , Chemical Properties | High School
Video: Ingenious Video 3: This Sandwich Will Save Your Life in an Arc Flash
It’s never fun when your clothes catch on fire. And while “stop, drop, and roll” may be a good idea sometimes, in more extreme cases, you need a better plan. Every day, industrial workers, firefighters, and soldiers risk fiery situations that might seem hard to imagine. In an arc flash event, for one, temperatures can jump to metal-melting levels in milliseconds. How can anyone possibly survive that? Well, take a tip from a club sandwich, because it’s all about the layers. The composite fabrics that protect life and limb in these situations rely on some incredible, multilayered chemistry, including the ability to quickly form a protective carbonaceous crust around the wearer.
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Physical Properties, Polymers, Interdisciplinary, Lab Safety, Polymers, Heat, Temperature, Chemical Properties | High School
Activity: Ingenious: This Sandwich Will Save Your Life in an Arc Flash Video Questions
In this activity, students will answer questions while watching the video, This Sandwich will Save your life in an Arc Flash, from the Ingenious series produced by the American Chemical Society. Each episode investigates a different topic related to how leading-edge chemistry is taking on the world’s most urgent issues to advance everyone’s quality of life and secure our shared future. This episode investigates the composite fabrics that protect lives of many people, like industrial workers, firefighters, and soldiers. When these workers encounter a fiery situation, they rely on protective clothing, designed using multiple layers of chemistry, to keep them safe.
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Observations, Phase Changes, Physical Change, Chemical Change, Specific Heat, Temperature, Heat of Combustion, Intermolecular Forces, Heating Curve, Boiling Point, Heat of Vaporization | Middle School, High School
Demonstration: Cooking an Egg in Chemistry Class
In this demonstration, students will observe the very high latent heat of vaporization for water by boiling water over a Bunsen burner in a paper cup to cook a boiled egg. The discussion can be extended to incorporate intermolecular forces to explain the unusually high boiling point of water, as well as heat of vaporization and specific heat capacity.
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Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Heat of Combustion | Middle School
Lesson Plan: Chemical Volcanoes - A Tale of Two Reactions
In this lesson, students will use volcanoes as a vehicle to learn about the differences between endothermic and exothermic reactions by completing a hands-on activities and observing a teacher-led demonstration.
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Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature | High School
Simulation: Understanding Specific Heat Capacity
In this simulation, students will play the role of engineer. They will calculate the specific heat capacity of various materials to determine which ones meet stated criteria and then perform a cost analysis to determine which material to use.
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Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Experimental Design | Middle School, High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Understanding Specific Heat
In this simulation, students will play the role of engineer in deciding which materials are the best candidates for a building project. They will calculate the specific heat capacity of various building materials to determine which ones meet the criteria for building an energy efficient home. Students will also do a cost analysis to determine which material to use in their building project. On the student activity sheet, they will answer additional conceptual and numerical questions related to specific heat capacity.
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Observations, Inferences, Molecular Motion, Temperature | Elementary School
Demonstration: How Does Temperature Affect Water Molecules?
In this demonstration, students will observe models to better understand that temperature affects molecular movements.
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Reaction Rate, Chemical Change, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature | High School
Lab: A Comparison of Two Chemical Reactions
In this lab, students will perform two chemical reactions, one between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate and the other between the citric acid and the sodium bicarbonate in an Alka-Seltzer tablet when dissolved in water. Both reactions will produce gas while reacting in a closed plastic sandwich bag, causing it to inflate. Students will observe the reactions and analyze the results in order to understand indicators of chemical changes, heat flow, and factors that affect reaction rates
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature | Middle School, High School
Lab: Energy Transfer Investigation
In this lab, students will experience several examples of energy transfer. They will analyze their observations and interpret their results in an attempt to explain why each transfer took place.
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Electricity, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Heat, Temperature, Molecular Geometry, Electronegativity | Middle School, High School
Activity: Future of Paint Video Questions
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer related questions about the fascinating and innovative scientific advancements of paint. During the video, Students will learn how the molecular components in paint are helping to evolve in the world around them.
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Interdisciplinary, Heat, Temperature, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Radiation, Graphing, Experimental Design | Middle School, High School
Lesson Plan: The Ozone Layer
In this lesson, students will develop an explanation for the consequences of ozone depletion on Earth by planning and carrying out an investigation. Students will use analysis and interpretation of data to develop a model to explain the cause and effect of Ozone depletion on the planet Earth.
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Introduction, Elements, Periodic Table, Temperature | High School
Activity: An Element Fill-In Puzzle
In this activity, students will solve a puzzle by using element symbols from the periodic table to fill-in missing letters in familiar chemistry terms related to energy and thermodynamics.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Calorimetry, Heat, Hess's Law, Entropy, Specific Heat, Temperature, Gibb's Free Energy , Enthalpy, Energy Diagrams | High School
Lesson Plan: Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics Unit Plan
The AACT high school classroom resource library and multimedia collection has everything you need to put together a unit plan for your classroom: lessons, activities, labs, projects, videos, simulations, and animations. We constructed a unit plan using AACT resources that is designed to teach thermochemistry and thermodynamics to your students.
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Melting Point, Phase Changes, Calorimetry, Heat, Specific Heat, Temperature, Intermolecular Forces, Heating Curve, Phase Diagram, Molecular Motion, Law of Conservation of Energy, Boiling Point | High School
Lesson Plan: Phase Changes and Heat Transfer Unit Plan
The AACT high school classroom resource library and multimedia collection has everything you need to put together a unit plan for your classroom: lessons, activities, labs, projects, videos, simulations, and animations. We constructed a unit plan using AACT resources that is designed to teach the Phase Changes and Heat Transfer to your students.
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Physical Properties, History, Temperature, Measurements, SI Units, Accuracy | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Activity: Temperature Guys Video Questions
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about how both the thermometer and the concept of temperature evolved over time
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Temperature, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Heat, Temperature | Middle School, High School
Lab: Mega Marshmallows
In this lab, students will investigate the Kinetic Molecular Theory and particle motion while experimenting with a marshmallow. Students will observe how an increase in kinetic energy will cause particles to increase in motion. This concept will be extended into a discussion about additional real world thermal expansion examples.
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Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Law of Conservation of Energy, Bond Energy | High School
Project: Thermochemistry Infographic
In this project, students will apply the principles of thermochemistry and thermodynamics to explain real world phenomena by creating an infographic using web based tools.
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Temperature, Heat, Temperature | Elementary School, Middle School
Demonstration: An Uplifting Experience
In this demonstration, students will investigate what happens to air when it is heated.
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Electricity, Polymers, Molecular Structure, Heat, Temperature, Molecular Geometry, Electronegativity | Middle School, High School
Video: The Future of Paint Video
This video explores the fascinating and innovative scientific advancements of paint. Students will learn how the molecular components in paint are helping to evolve in the world around them. Futuristic paint is capable of replacing light switches, conducting electricity, and regulating temperature amongst other things!
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Temperature, Heat, Temperature | Elementary School
Demonstration: Global Warming in a Jar
In this demonstration students will learn about the cause and effects of global warming. Students will research about global warming, while also comparing it to a demonstration. This will help students to better understand the effects that temperature change can have on the planet.
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Classification of Reactions, Exothermic & Endothermic, Heat, Temperature | 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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Classification of Reactions, Chemical Change, Exothermic & Endothermic, Temperature, Activation Energy, Energy Diagrams, Bond Energy | 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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Physical Properties, History, Temperature, Accuracy | 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!