Lesson plan - Physics

Year 7

Topic: Intermolecular forces.

Duration: 45 minutes

1. Experiment no. 1. Students study how large intermolecular forces are.

Required materials: two coverslips, water.

Plan:

- Lay one coverslip horizontally on top of the other and then separate them.

- Students are asked to repeat these steps, placing a few drops of water on the lower
coverslip first.

- Result - In the second case separating both coverslips is very difficult.

Conclusion: The forces present between water and glass particles are of high
values.

2. Experiment no. 2. Students research the interaction of water and wood.

Required materials: a vessel with water and a pencil.

Plan:

- Insert a pencil vertically into the container with water.

- Slowly remove it from water simultaneously watching its surface.

Conclusion: Water and wood molecules interact. Those are intermolecular

interactions.

3. Experiment no. 3. Students research the appearance of free surface of water.

Required materials: test tubes of different cross-section, water, a magnifier.

Plan:

- Fill the tubes with water.

- Observe the surface of water.

Conclusion: The surface of water is not completely flat, it curves when it touches the
glass. This shape is called a concave meniscus.

4. Experiment no. 4. Students study the existence of force that creates and
maintains the free surface of a liquid.

Required materials: Flat dish with water, a needle, a razor blade, tweezers.

Plan:

- Grab the razor with tweezers and carefully lay it horizontally on the water surface.

- Hold the needle with the tweezers and carefully lay it horizontally on the water
surface.

Conclusion: A film forms on the surface of the liquid which is the result of the action
of force. It is called surface tension .

5. Experiment no. 5. Students study the effects of detergents.

Required materials: a plate, ground pepper, water, dishwashing liquid, pipette.

Plan:

- Pour water on a plate.

- Sprinkle it with ground pepper.

- Use your fingers to push the pepper away from the water surface.

-Add a few drops of detergent.

Conclusion: The addition of detergent reduces the surface tension of water.