Heating Curves & Energy During Phase Change — Drills · Grade 8 Science

Chapter: Phases of Matter

What these drills covers

By the end of Heating Curves & Energy During Phase Change you should be able to:

4 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.

Vocabulary used: heating curve, phase, plateau, latent heat, coexistence, model, evidence, system boundary, assumption.

Problem 1

What does the graph directly record?
Answer and explanation

Temperature at recorded times. A constant-rate assumption connects time with energy input; the graph does not directly measure every energy pathway.

Temperature at recorded times. A constant-rate assumption connects time with energy input; the graph does not directly measure every energy pathway.

Response criteria

  • Use the supplied conditions and relevant evidence.
  • Explain the scientific mechanism or calculation.
  • State a meaningful limitation or testable next step.

Problem 2

Were ice particles motionless at −10 °C?
Answer and explanation

No. They vibrate in the solid. Warming changes their motion; melting later changes the larger arrangement and freedom to move.

No. They vibrate in the solid. Warming changes their motion; melting later changes the larger arrangement and freedom to move.

Response criteria

  • Use the supplied conditions and relevant evidence.
  • Explain the scientific mechanism or calculation.
  • State a meaningful limitation or testable next step.

Problem 3

What evidence would show change despite constant temperature?
Answer and explanation

A decreasing solid fraction and increasing liquid fraction while energy is supplied. Temperature alone is insufficient to describe the complete state.

A decreasing solid fraction and increasing liquid fraction while energy is supplied. Temperature alone is insufficient to describe the complete state.

Response criteria

  • Use the supplied conditions and relevant evidence.
  • Explain the scientific mechanism or calculation.
  • State a meaningful limitation or testable next step.

Problem 4

Can a temperature of 0 °C alone tell us the fraction of liquid water?
Answer and explanation

No. Pure ice, a solid–liquid mixture or liquid at that temperature may be possible under the stated conditions; additional state evidence is needed.

No. Pure ice, a solid–liquid mixture or liquid at that temperature may be possible under the stated conditions; additional state evidence is needed.

Response criteria

  • Use the supplied conditions and relevant evidence.
  • Explain the scientific mechanism or calculation.
  • State a meaningful limitation or testable next step.

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