Meteorology

What is Temperature?

To understand what is happening with weather on a large scale, you need to understand what is happening with some of the smallest things that we can observe.

Learning Targets

  • Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
  • Develop a model to describe and understand the phase changes that happen in the Earth's atmosphere.

Success Criteria

  • I have made a prediction about how atoms and molecules react to heat energy.
  • I have completed the simulation by observing the materials in their different states.
  • I have recorded data about each of the different states.

Have you ever wondered

...how a thermometer works? We all know that when it is warm the numbers go up and when it is cold the numbers go down, but the real question is; why does this happen?

Thermometers used to be filled with a metal called mercury. What's unique about mercury is that it is liquid at room temperature. We have found that mercury can be very toxic so today thermometers are either filled with rubbing alcohol or they are digital.

The two scales most frequently used with thermometers are the Celsius (mostly used in science) and Fahrenheit. For the following lab we will be using another scale that can be used, called the Kelvin Scale.

States of Matter Simulation

During the following simulation you will learn about the structure of different types of matter as it goes through its various phase changes.

Before you begin,

you need to know the definition of several vocabulary words:

  • Matter: Anything that has volume and mass.
  • Heat Energy: The energy of a material due to the random motion of its particles. Also called thermal energy.
  • Kinetic Energy: The energy of movement.
  • Atom: The basic unit of a chemical element
  • Molecule: The smallest unit of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of the substance and that is composed of two or more atoms. click here for the Periodic Table of the Elements

Now that you know the vocabulary,

Copy the following data table into your science notebook:

Predict

  • Team Talk!
  1. How do you think atoms and molecules react to different amounts of heat energy?
  2. Draw a diagram to illustrate your prediction.

Simulation

  1. Click on the link for States of Matter and follow the instructions to download the simulation.
  2. Observe all 4 materials at their solid, liquid, and gas states. Record the temperature and draw a quick diagram for each on your data table.

click here to begin

Analysis

  1. Compare your prediction to what actually happened in the simulation. How are they similar and different?
  2. Analyze the data and look for patterns.
  3. As a group construct several sentences that describe the data. Use each of the following terms as you write:
    • matter
    • heat energy
    • kinetic energy
    • atoms and molecules.

Success Criteria

  • I have compared my prediction to what happened in the simulation.
  • I have recognized a pattern or patterns in the data.
  • I have written several sentences with my group using the correct terms to describe the data.
  • I can describe what happens when heat energy and kinetic energy of atoms and molecules increase and decrease.

Assessment

Questions

Go to the following link to answer some questions about what you have learned.

Can you now

...explain how a thermometer works? Create a diagram (with labels) in your Science Notebook to help explain. Use the terms we discussed in class to explain what is happening in a thermometer.

MS-ESS2-4.

Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.