Third-grade students began learning about thermal energy today. I demonstrated how molecules react at different temperatures by placing food coloring drops in hot water, room temperature water, and cold water. In the images below, you can see the dye in the hot water spreads quickly because the molecules are moving quickly. The drops in the cold water hung near the top and barely moved. The room temperature water mixed at a rate between the hot and cold water.
Students also demonstrated how molecules move in solids, liquids, and gases and how each type responds to temperature changes by moving around the carpet.
