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published by the WGBH Educational Foundation
This instructional module explores how molecular changes determine physical characteristics of materials. It opens with a short video clip that introduces atomic arrangement of solids by focusing on carbon in different forms. A second video discusses the structural changes to a water molecule that occur during phase change. Students then investigate differences among carbon forms through digital images of graphite and diamond structures. For gifted/talented learners, try the extension activity on buckyballs.

Please note that this resource requires Quicktime.
Editor's Note: This lesson was developed for high school, but can easily be adapted for the middle school classroom by extending time allowed for group discussion.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Education Practices
- Active Learning
- Technology
= Multimedia
General Physics
- Properties of Matter
Modern Physics
- Atomic Physics
Other Sciences
- Chemistry
- High School
- Middle School
- Elementary School
- Informal Education
- Instructional Material
= Activity
= Demonstration
= Lesson/Lesson Plan
- Audio/Visual
= Movie/Animation
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- Lesson Plan
- Activity
- New teachers
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Intended Users:
Educator
Learner
Formats:
text/html
video/quicktime
Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 2009 WGBH
Keywords:
buckyball, carbon, change of state, characteristics of matter, chemistry video, materials, matter, molecular structure, physical change, states of matter, video, video clip
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created August 19, 2011 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:
August 22, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
December 8, 2010

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4D. The Structure of Matter
  • 6-8: 4D/M1b. The atoms of any element are like other atoms of the same element, but are different from the atoms of other elements.
  • 6-8: 4D/M1cd. Atoms may link together in well-defined molecules, or may be packed together in crystal patterns. Different arrangements of atoms into groups compose all substances and determine the characteristic properties of substances.
  • 6-8: 4D/M3ab. Atoms and molecules are perpetually in motion. Increased temperature means greater average energy of motion, so most substances expand when heated.
  • 6-8: 4D/M6c. Carbon and hydrogen are common elements of living matter.
  • 6-8: 4D/M8. Most substances can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas depending on temperature.
  • 6-8: 4D/M10. A substance has characteristic properties such as density, a boiling point, and solubility, all of which are independent of the amount of the substance and can be used to identify it.

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.


Topic: Particles and Interactions and the Standard Model
Unit Title: Properties of Matter

Explore how molecular changes determine physical characteristics of materials. Module opens with a short video clip that introduces atomic arrangement of solids. A second video discusses the structural changes to a water molecule that occur during phase change. Students then investigate differences among carbon forms through digital images of graphite and diamond structures. For gifted/talented learners, try the extension activity on buckyballs.

Link to Unit:
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Record Link
AIP Format
(WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2009), WWW Document, (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/).
AJP/PRST-PER
PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships (WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, 2009), <https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/>.
APA Format
PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships. (2010, December 8). Retrieved February 14, 2025, from WGBH Educational Foundation: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/
Chicago Format
WGBH Educational Foundation. PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, December 8, 2010. https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/ (accessed 14 February 2025).
MLA Format
PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships. Boston: WGBH Educational Foundation, 2009. 8 Dec. 2010. 14 Feb. 2025 <https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Title = {PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships}, Publisher = {WGBH Educational Foundation}, Volume = {2025}, Number = {14 February 2025}, Month = {December 8, 2010}, Year = {2009} }
Refer Export Format

%T PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships %D December 8, 2010 %I WGBH Educational Foundation %C Boston %U https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/ %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D December 8, 2010 %T PBS LearningMedia: Structure-Property Relationships %I WGBH Educational Foundation %V 2025 %N 14 February 2025 %8 December 8, 2010 %9 text/html %U https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/psu06-nano.sci.proprelate/structure-property-relationships/


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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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