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 UG-Intro
HS
MS		 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
UG-Intro
HS		 Lab Physics
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? This contribution was designed by PhET. Sarah Borenstein MS Other Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Earth Science
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López HS
MS		 Other Earth Science
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment Elyse Zimmer MS
HS		 Other Biology
Chemistry
Physics
States of matter simulations Joko Susilo HS
MS		 Guided
Demo
MC
HW
Lab
Discuss		 Physics
Chemistry
States of Matte Inquiry Jeff Drach MS
HS		 Guided Chemistry
Gas laws simulation lab Dan Maley MS
HS		 Lab Physics
Chemistry
ChemActivity: Phase Changes and Intermolecular Forces Mary van Opstal HS
UG-Intro		 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 Grad
MS
UG-Adv
K-5
UG-Intro
HS		 HW
Discuss		 Physics
Astronomy
Chemistry
Mathematics
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López HS
MS		 Other Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Mathematics
PRIMARIA: Alineación con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López MS
K-5		 Lab
Discuss
Guided
HW
Demo		 Astronomy
Chemistry
Mathematics
Physics
Undersøgelse til Stoftilstande Basis Marie Moustesgaard MS Guided
HW		 Physics
Termodinâmica (Atividades) nos OA's do PhET Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales UG-Intro
Other
HS
MS		 Other
Guided
Lab
Demo
HW		 Physics
Earth Science
Other
Lei Geral dos Gases no "States of Matter: Basics (HTML5)" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales HS
MS
Other		 HW
Guided
Other		 Physics
Earth Science
Mathematics
Other
Estados da Matéria no "States of Matter: Basics (HTML5)" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales HS
Other
MS		 Guided
HW
Other		 Other
Earth Science
Physics

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Chinese (Simplified) All 中文 (中国) Run now 物质状态：基础
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HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 12+ Safari
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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