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Heat & Matter · Physics

States of Matter Simulation

Heat and cool atoms of neon, argon, oxygen or water and watch them melt, boil and condense. Squeeze the container, and see the forces between two atoms on the interaction tab.

Interactive virtual lab · no download · works on phones and laptops

Chapter
Matter · Thermal Properties · Kinetic Theory
For
Class 9 · Class 11
Time
~12 min

States of Matter is a Pro simulation

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How to use it

  1. 1Choose a substance and a starting state.
  2. 2Hold the heat/cool slider.
  3. 3Drag the lid to compress the container.
  4. 4Interaction tab: drag one atom and watch the force and potential energy.

What to notice

  • In a solid, atoms vibrate about fixed spots; in a liquid they slide past each other; in a gas they fly free.
  • During a phase change the added energy breaks bonds instead of raising the temperature as fast.
  • Atoms attract at a distance and repel when squeezed close.
  • The bond length sits at the bottom of the potential well.

For teachers

A ready-made teaching kit comes with this lab

  • Lesson plan

    20 min, 4 steps

  • Ask the class

    3 questions with answers

  • Quick quiz

    6 questions, printable

  • Key formulas

    2 formulas

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About the States of Matter simulation

Solids, liquids and gases are the same particles with different amounts of energy. In a solid they vibrate about fixed places, held by attractions; in a liquid they slide past each other; in a gas they fly apart. Heating adds energy until the attractions can no longer hold them, which is melting and boiling.

In this states of matter simulation you heat and cool neon, argon, oxygen and water, watch the particles change state, change the container's volume and read a pressure–temperature graph. A second screen plots the potential energy between two atoms and the force between them. It suits Matter in Our Surroundings in Class 9 and Kinetic Theory and Thermal Properties in Class 11.

Also covers: solid liquid gas, phase change, melting, boiling, lennard-jones, atomic interactions, intermolecular forces.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't temperature rise while ice melts?

The energy supplied goes into breaking the attractions between molecules (latent heat), not into making them move faster.

Why do two atoms attract at a distance but repel up close?

At larger distances weak attractions dominate; when they get too close their electron clouds overlap and repel strongly.

Why does a gas fill its whole container?

Its particles have enough energy to overcome the attractions and move freely until they spread through the whole space.

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