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Particles and Energy

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Increasing the temperature causes particles to gain speed and energy.

Particles and Energy

Particles are always moving. In KS2 Science, pupils learn how energy affects particles, causing changes in speed, state, and the way materials behave.

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Fascinating Fact:

When particles lose heat energy, they move more slowly and can change state, like water freezing into ice.

In KS2 Science, pupils explore how particles behave differently in solids, liquids, and gases. Energy changes, such as heating or cooling, affect their speed and cause materials to change state.

  • Particle: A tiny unit that makes up all matter, too small to see with the eye.
  • Energy: The ability to cause change, such as heating, moving, or lighting something.
  • State of Matter: The form matter takes — solid, liquid, or gas — depending on particle arrangement and energy.
What are particles in KS2 Science?

Particles are tiny pieces that make up everything around us. They are too small to see but scientists use models to explain how they behave.

How does heat energy affect particles?

When particles gain heat, they move faster and spread out. When they lose heat, they slow down and can form solids, like water turning into ice.

Why do materials change state?

Materials change state because heating or cooling alters the energy of their particles. This makes solids melt, liquids evaporate, or gases condense.

1 .
Lowering the temperature of a substance causes its particles to do what?
Speed up
Maintain the same speed
Slow down
Stop moving
Lowering the temperature reduces the amount of energy
2 .
Increasing the temperature causes particles to gain what?
Speed
Energy
Mass
Speed and energy
The energy speeds up the particles so they are gaining both speed and energy
3 .
Particles in which state of matter are tightly packed?
Solid
Liquid
Gas
All of the above
When a substance is solid, its particles do not move around much. Because their particles are so tightly packed, solids keep their shape unless forced to change (i.e. by cutting or squashing)
4 .
Which state of matter has particles which move very fast?
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Solids and liquids
The particles in gases move much faster than those in a liquid and those of a solid hardly move at all
5 .
Which of the following is true of the particles of a liquid?
The particles of a liquid do not move
They move very fast, much faster than the particles of a gas
They are more tightly-packed than the particles of a solid
They are not as tightly packed as a solid's particles, but do not move as freely as those of a gas
Liquids are halfway between a solid and a gas
6 .
What are light particles known as?
Molecules
Electrons
Photons
Neutrons
The clue is in the name! 'Photo' means 'related to light'
7 .
A vibrating object causes air particles to vibrate. These air particles cause other air particles to vibrate, which cause more air particles to vibrate.  What is this movement of energy called?
Sound waves
Gravity
Force
Tidal waves
Sound is a vibration in the air
8 .
What takes place when particles gain enough energy to escape the surface of a liquid?
Condensation
Evaporation
Freezing
Melting
If you heat a liquid up you are giving it energy and it might evaporate
9 .
Sound waves travel fastest through which material?
Solids
Liquids
Gases
Sound waves don't change their speed
Vibrations can be passed along more quickly when particles are closer together, as they are in a solid
10 .
Sound waves can cause which of these to vibrate?
Particles of a solid
Particles of a liquid
Particles of a gas
All of the above
This is why sound can pass through almost any material
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - States of matter

Author:  Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)

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