Particle Structure of Matter Survey

Particle Structure of Matter Survey

The Department of Physics conducts research on how students learn physics. This results of this research is used to improve instruction in our courses and to increase our knowledge of student learning. The purpose of this survey is to learn about your knowledge of the particle structure of matter.

Informed Consent

As a participant in this type of research you have certain rights. If you are taking this survey as part of an extra credit activity, you may request an alternative activity for the credit. You may also stop taking the survey at any time. If you do, you will need to see your instructor for an alternative extra credit.

More information about this research project may be found at this link.

Please read and check the appropriate boxes below.

	I understand this project is for research and that my participation is completely voluntary, and that if I decide to participate in this study, I may withdraw my consent at any time, and stop participating at any time without explanation, penalty, or loss of benefits, or academic standing to which I may otherwise be entitled. I also understand that checking the box to the left indicates that I have read this consent form and willingly agree to participate in this study under the terms described.
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Click Submit to continue.

Particle Structure of Matter Survey

Your name: Gender:

Your age:

Your education level:

Have you taken high school physics:

Physics courses at KSU (Select all that you have taken or are enrolled in now)

Page 1 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain
1. Particles move because they are alive.
2. A force acts between the particles of a solid object.
3. Air is between the particles of every liquid; for example, between the water particles.
4. The existence of particles can be proven by some experiments.
5. Friction between particles is the reason that moving particles sometimes stop.
6. The change in the state of an object (such as from a solid to a liquid) also changes the state of the particles in the object (for example, making solid particles become liquid particles).
7. Since we know particles exist, sooner or later, scientists will be able to determine their size and shape exactly.
8. The volume of an object changes when its dimensions change.
9. The mass of 100 lead particles is smaller than the mass of 101 Aluminum particles.
10. Forces act between the particles of a liquid.

Page 2 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain.
11. Particles of a material are always in motion, regardless of whether the material is a solid, liquid or gas.
12. Particles are as real as books or automobiles.
13. The motion of particles will eventually stop if the temperature does not change.
14. Tap water is cooled in a freezer that has a temperature -18°C. Once the water freezes at 0°C, the particles of the water no longer move.
15. 42 particles have a greater mass than 30 particles regardless of the particles are made from.
16. The particle model is clearly uncovered from experiments.
17. Because of their electrical charge, particles can attract and repel.
18. The mass of an object indicates how heavy or light the object is.
19. An individual particle can possess a force.
20. Between the particles of an object is vacuum (empty space).

Page 3 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain.
21. In the particle model, the average speed of the particles corresponds to the temperature of the material.
22. The lattice structure in a solid object makes forces between the particles unnecessary.
23. Particles are not real.
24. Particle movement is always associated with friction.
25. Two objects have identical volume. The density is determined by not only the number of particles but also the mass of those particles.
26. The mass of 72 iron particles is always smaller than the mass of 100 iron particles.
27. Particles have the same color as the object in which they are located.
28.The density of an object is determined by its mass and volume.
29. Electrical charges can be the cause of forces.
30. In a liquid, particles move only when the liquid flows.

Page 4 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain.
31. Particles are a human invention, which only helps scientists interpret certain events that occur in nature.
32. The warming of particles occurs because of friction between particles.
33. A particle has an attractive force even if no other particle is around for it to attract.
34. Scientists’ idea of a particle reflects the way things really are.
35. Air is between the particles of any gas.
36. Particles have the same characteristics as the object they are part of.
37. An iron block is melted. In the process, the form of each iron particle also changes.
38. The mass of a railroad rail increases when the distance between particles increases because the rail gets hotter.
39. The volume of an object is determined by the space it occupies.
40. Particles have the same temperature as the object to which they belong.

Page 5 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain.
41. The volume of an object is the same as its mass.
42. Particles possess forces.
43. Almost no force acts between the particles of a gaseous object.
44. The particle model permits us to explain phenomena correctly.
45. The particles of a warm iron ball are located at a greater distance from each other than the particles of a cold iron ball.
46. The same material in a continuous form is located between the particles of a body. For example, in an iron ball, iron in a continuous form is between the iron particles.
47. If the mass of a body increases, its weight increases.
48. Instruments can measure particles. Therefore particles exist.
49. Particles are a conceptual model.
50. Warming an object changes its volume.

Page 6 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain.
51. In a solid object, the particles always lie close together, regardless of the temperature.
52. An iron rod is composed of the smallest iron particles.
53. A railroad rail has a temperature of 25°C. The particles of this track also have a temperature of 25°C.
54. Usually the particles of an object in the liquid state are located at larger distances from each other than the particles of an object in the solid state.
55. Particles move in solids as well as in liquids or gases.
56. In all states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) forces act between the particles.
57. The change of state of an object, for example from solid to liquid, changes the distance between the particles in the object.
58. The mass of a body is a result of the number of particles and their individual masses.
59. All objects are made up of the smallest particles
60. Water in liquid form is located between the adjacent water particles.

Page 7 of 9

For each statement, please provide TWO responses:

a) Click on one of the four option buttons in the white area to record your opinion concerning whether it is true, false or in between.

b) Click on one of the two option buttons in the gray area to indicate how certain you are of your answer.

	False	More false than true	More true than false	True	I am certain	I am not certain.
61. Particles of a warm copper wire move more rapidly than particles in a cool copper wire.
62. Forces act between particles of an object.
63. All particles have a spherical shape.
64. The temperature of a solid object determines the distance between the particles of this object.
65. Copper is red. A copper particle is also red.
66. The volume of an object is determined by the distance between the particles of that object.
67. The density of an object depends only on how close the particles in that object are located.
68. Air is located between the particles of an object regardless of whether the object is in the solid, liquid or gaseous state.
69. The particles of an object in the solid state are completely immobile.
70. The temperature of an object determines how rapidly its particles move.

Page 8 of 9

Please answer the following questions in the space provided.

2. Mark André was asked by his physics teacher to draw his ideas about the structure of air in an area. The following illustration shows Mark André’s ideas.

What do you think of this idea?

I agree with it because

I disagree with it because

3. The following example is taken from a school book, and explained as followed:

What do you think of this conceptual model? Mark the best statement below and justify, why you selected it.

The conceptual model is correct.
The conceptual model is not correct.
The conceptual model represents an arbitrary assumption.
The conceptual model is acceptable to explain the linear expansion.
This concept corresponds to reality.

Type your justification below.

Page 9 of 9

Please answer the following questions.

4. In the illustration below, two objects are schematically represented in a particle structure model. Compare the objects

Which object has a greater mass?

The object on the left has a greater mass.

The object on the right has a greater mass.

The masses of the two objects are identical.

Which object has a greater weight?

The object on the left is heavier.

The object on the right is heavier.

The objects have identical weights.

Which object has a greater volume?

The object on the left has a greater volume.

The object on the right has a greater volume.

The volumes of the two objects are identical.

Which object has a greater density?

The object on the left has a greater density.

The object on the right has a greater density.

The densities of the two objects are identical.