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Listed under:  Science  >  Matter  >  States of matter
Video

Properties of liquid and gas

Nitrogen gas makes up 80% of the air we breathe, and if we cool the nitrogen gas down to minus 196 Celcius and squash it down we can turn it into liquid nitrogen. This liquid takes up much less space than it did as a gas. When we warm up liquid nitrogen it will turn back into a gas and take up more room, so what happens ...

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Shrinking and expanding metals

Explore with the Surfing Scientist team what happens when metals are heated and cooled. Find out what happens to a metal ring when it is immersed in extremely cold liquid nitrogen. What do hinges on the Sydney Harbour Bridge have to do with all this? Find out.

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Evaporating liquid nitrogen

Can you imagine a liquid that turns into a gas at minus 196 degrees Celsius? Watch as the Surfing Scientist explores the change in properties of liquid nitrogen as it evaporates in a series of experiments that go 'pop'!

Online

States of matter: Our warming world

Matter can exist in different states, and behave differently depending on temperature. In this resource, students investigate how heat can affect the motion and arrangement of particles, and how this may impact our world.

Video

Elliot and the Surfing Scientist: Boiling liquid nitrogen at freezing temperatures

Explore some of the amazing properties of liquid nitrogen with Ruben the Surfing Scientist. Find out how Ruben proves that liquid nitrogen is very very cold. See the effect of adding liquid nitrogen to water.

Online

Carbon is energy

We all use energy every day. Energy is available to us in many different forms - food, heat, electricity, petrol. But where does it all come from? This unit investigates the science of energy, renewable and non-renewable energy sources and how they can be sustained into the future. The unit includes PDF resources and video ...

Interactive

The water cycle for kids

This interactive resource is a pictorial water-cycle diagram accompanied by an explanation. The resource shows an illustration of a landscape with stylised water drops representing changes of state such as precipitation and evaporation. The visual style is designed to be engaging to children. Simplified versions of the ...

Interactive

Properties of Solids, Liquids and Gases

Students use this resource consisting of five slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand the properties of the three states of matter. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Audio

Microwave explosions

This ABC article and podcast by Dr Karl describes how superheated water can be produced by heating in a microwave and the dangers. This program could be a useful resource when studying the particle theory of matter.

Audio

Lakes in Antarctica

Scientists are not complacent. We still have a lot to learn about the water cycle. The discovery of glacial lakes under the ice in Antarctica actively transporting water between reservoirs was a surprise. These lakes can be up to 3km beneath the ice sheets. The pressure of the ice above helps to melt the ice, forming lakes. ...

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Recycling plastics and glass

This resource contains suggestions for students about the process of using the internet to do research recycling in their local area. Help save the planet and teach your family how to become better at recycling.

Video

Squeaky sand

This six minute video segment from Catalyst Two compares two beaches, one with white squeaky sand, the other with darker non-squeaky sand and their sand studied under a microscope. Dr Tim Senden attempts to shed some light on this mystery with the use of a visual model. Sand avalanches and the production of sound come into ...

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Magic potion

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of dropping dry ice into food coloured water. Safety regulations should be checked and followed.

Interactive

Science Talk 2007: Ruben Meerman

Find out what happens when the ABC's Surfing scientist, Ruben Meerman visits Year 3 at Crown Street Public School with some liquid nitrogen! Ruben shows the Year 3 students what happens to solids and gases when they are cooled and warmed and relates this to real-world phenomena. Ruben also shows the kids some tricks with ...

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Relightable candle

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of relighting a candle. This activity is most likely to be done as a teacher demonstration for safety and classroom management reasons, particularly at primary school level. Do this experiment to learn how a candle ...

Interactive

Cool colour

This is a lesson plan, complete with instructions, materials list, worksheets and photographs of the expected results from the ABC's surfing scientist. The students are encouraged to participate in a first-hand science activity using sugar and colour-coated chocolate lollies.

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Magic rocking candle

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of burning both ends of a balancing candle. This activity is most likely to be done as a teacher demonstration for safety and classroom management reasons, particularly at primary school level.

Interactive

experiMENTALS: Spooky slime

This resource contains a materials and instruction list and brief explanation for students about the process of making spooky slime with cornflour to produce a substance that is a little like a liquid and a little like a solid.

Interactive

The Particle Theory

Students use this resource consisting of four slides with diagrams, written explanation and voice-over to understand the different behaviour of particles in matter in solid, liquid and gaseous states. There is a two-question quiz and a summary slide.

Interactive

Laptop Wrap: Particle model

A webpage with a focus on investigating the particle model of matter with supporting activities and links to resources.