Student Exploration: Diffusion
Student Exploration: Diffusion
Student Exploration: Diffusion
Vocabulary: absolute zero, controlled experiment, diffusion, dynamic equilibrium, Kelvin scale,
kinetic energy
How do you think the smell of popcorn spreads through the air? _______with more inter particle
spaces available in air ______the popcorn spreads in air
____________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Gizmo Warm-up
Smells are carried by tiny particles that move through
the air. The Diffusion Gizmo shows gas particles in a
chamber that is divided into two regions by a partial
wall. Click Play ( ) and observe.
________________________________________
This process, in which particles move from an area of high concentration (region A) to an
area of low concentration (region B), is called diffusion.
3. Select the BAR CHART tab, and observe the chart for a few minutes. After the first 30
seconds or so, how much do the numbers of particles in each region change?
_________33 in A and 17 in
B________________________________________________________________
When the numbers don’t change much, the particles are said to be in dynamic equilibrium.
2019
4. Click Pause ( ), and select the GRAPH tab. What does the graph tell you about the
decreasing_________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2019
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Temperature and Click Reset ( ).
diffusion Set the Wall to 100%.
Introduction: In this Gizmo, temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale. On this scale, 0 K
represents absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature. Water freezes at 273.15 K (0 °C),
and water boils at 373.15 K (100 °C).
1. Observe: Set the temperature (Temp.) to 100 K, and press Play. Observe the motion of
particles. Click Reset. Then set the temperature to 600 K, click Play, and observe.
How does the temperature of the gas relate to the motion of the particles? ______________
The temperature of a gas is a measure of the average kinetic energy of a set of particles.
Kinetic energy (KE) depends on the velocity and mass of the particles (KE = mv2 / 2).
2. Form hypothesis: How do you think temperature will affect the rate of diffusion? __________
3. Experiment: Click Reset. Set the Wall to 50%, x in A to 100, y in B to 0, Temp. to 100 K,
and Particle mass to 15 amu (atomic mass units). Select the TABLE tab. Press Play.
Click Pause when x in A first reaches 55% or below. Record this Time to reach
equilibrium in the left table below.
Repeat four more times at 100 K, and then run five trials with the temperature set to 600 K.
2019
Trial Time to reach equilibrium
1 148
2019
2 146
3 145
4 148
5 142
2019
Activity A (continued from previous page)
4. Calculate: Find the average time to reach equilibrium for each experiment:
5. Draw conclusions: Compare the average times to reach equilibrium for each temperature.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6. Extend your thinking: Why do you think the experimental results were different for each trial?
__________in high temperature the sells moved fast were as the cells with low temperature
moved very slow which differed the time of each
experiments_______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
7. On your own: In our lives, we rarely experience temperatures that are above 373 K (100 °C)
or below 273 K (0 °C). Investigate how much diffusion rates differ between these two
temperatures. Describe the results of your experiments below.
_____I had high temperature of 108 degree Celsius during my childhood twice a
year____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2019
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2019
Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
Rates of diffusion Click Reset.
Introduction: The Diffusion Gizmo allows you to manipulate five variables: the Wall, the
number of x particles in region A, the number of y particles in region B, the temperature, and
the Particle mass.
Question: How do factors other than temperature affect the rate of diffusion?
1. Choose a variable: Pick a variable to investigate. Which one did you choose? ___particle
mass________
2. Form hypothesis: How do you think this variable will affect rates of diffusion? ____________
__the weight of the particle changes the speed traveled by the cell
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Set-up A Set-up B
Wall Wall ____50___________
_____50%__________
x in A
x in A ____100___________
_____100__________
y in B ____0___________
y in B ________0_______
Temp.
Temp. ____600___________
____600___________
Particle mass ____15__________
Particle mass ______25________
4. Gather data: Use the Gizmo to fill in each table. As before, the “time to reach equilibrium” is
the time it takes for the number of x particles in region A to reach 55% or lower.
Set-up A 3 710
Trial Time to reach equilibrium 4 713
1 712 5 702
2 700 Set-up B
2019
Trial Time to reach equilibrium
1 148
2 146
2019
3 142
4 148
5 141
2019
Activity B (continued from previous page)
5. Calculate: Find the average time to reach equilibrium for each experiment:
6. Draw conclusions: Compare the average times to reach equilibrium for each set-up.
A. How did the variable you investigated affect the rate of diffusion? _______________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
7. On your own: Investigate the remaining variables. Record all experimental results in your
notes. Summarize your findings in the space below.
____the weight and temperature are the main causes and factors of
diffusion.__________________________________________________________________
___
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2019