3:3 Solids and Plasmas

Learning Targets:3

Describe how kinetic-molecular theory explains the properties of plasmas.

Learning Targets:2

Describe how kinetic-molecular theory explains the properties of solids, including compressibility, shape, and volume.

Temperature depends on the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample. How does this help with explaining why a plasma-based light does not have a high temperature? A No particles in the plasma have high kinetic energy. B The fastest particles have the greatest mass. C Most particles in the plasma are heavy and slow. D The fastest particles transfer most of their energy through collisions.

Most particles in the plasma are heavy and slow.

How does the motion of particles in the sun's plasma compare to the motion of particles in a solid? A Particles in both the plasma and a solid move around to fill available space. B Particles in the plasma move randomly, but particles in a solid vibrate in one place. C Particles in the plasma have low kinetic energy, but particles in a solid have high kinetic energy. D Particles in both the plasma and a solid are made up of fast-moving electrons and cations.

Particles in the plasma move randomly, but particles in a solid vibrate in one place.

Learning Targets:1

Use kinetic-molecular theory to compare and contrast atomic or molecular motion in solids and plasmas.

Which is an example of a plasma that occurs in nature? A a burning tree B the radiant sun C a melting candle D an electric current

the radiant sun

Which best explains why a crystal is incompressible? A Its molecules remain in position without vibrating. B The molecules of a crystal behave like those of a gas. C There is little, if any, space left between its adjacent molecules. D Its molecules switch positions when they are compressed.

There is little, if any, space left between its adjacent molecules.

Which reason best explains why plasmas are good conductors of electricity? A They have mobile charged particles. B They are at extremely high temperatures. C They are made up of particles in fixed positions. D They have slow-moving nuclei that carry electricity.

They have mobile charged particles.

A group of students are wandering around a room. When their teacher claps, the students sit down wherever they are. This situation best models the formation of which type of solid? A an amorphous solid because the particles do not have a regular structure B an amorphous solid because the motion of the particles stopped C a crystalline solid because the moving particles lock into fixed positions D a crystalline solid because the particles have a long-range order

an amorphous solid because the particles do not have a regular structure

Which low-energy state of condensed matter is characterized by structural rigidity and resistance to changes of shape or volume? A gas B liquid C plasma D solid

solid

The repeating subunits that are responsible for the shape of a crystal are known as A unit cells B heavy nuclei C light electrons D amorphous cells

unit cells

What happens when the kinetic energy of molecules increases so much that electrons are released by the atoms, creating a swirling gas of positive ions and negative electrons? A Matter changes to a solid state. B Matter changes to a liquid state. C Matter changes to a plasma state. D Matter changes to a gaseous state

Matter changes to a plasma state.

What are thermal plasmas? A plasmas that have particles that collide infrequently B plasmas that reach a temperature equal to their surroundings C plasmas that do not reach thermal equilibrium D plasmas that have only a few particles ionized at any given moment

plasmas that reach a temperature equal to their surroundings