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Particle Model of Matter — Reading Comprehension

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MS-PS1-1
MS-PS1-4

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This comprehensive science reading passage for grades 6-8 explores the particle model of matter, aligning with NGSS standards MS-PS1-1 and MS-PS1-4. Students will learn how all matter is composed of tiny particles—atoms and molecules—and how their arrangement and movement differ in solids, liquids, and gases. The passage integrates scientific thinking by explaining how scientists use evidence from experiments and observations to understand particle behavior. It connects these microscopic mechanisms to real-world examples, such as why ice floats or how air fills a balloon. The resource includes a glossary, differentiated and Spanish versions, multiple-choice and writing activities, and graphic organizers. This text is ideal for building foundational knowledge of physical science and can be used with audio integration for accessible learning. Suitable for middle school science classrooms or home study.

CONTENT PREVIEW

properties-of-matter-3 — The three main states of matter and how their particles are arranged

Matter is everything that has mass and takes up space. A wooden desk, a glass of water, and the air you breathe are all forms of matter. What makes these things different comes down to how their tiny building blocks—called particles—are arranged and how they move. The particle model of matter helps us understand why substances behave differently, from a solid ice cube to invisible water vapor.

How Particles Make Up Matter

At the smallest level, all matter is made of atoms and molecules. These particles are so small that a single drop of water contains about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 particles! In a solid, the particles are packed tightly together in a fixed pattern. They can only vibrate in place, which makes solids hard and gives them a definite shape. In a liquid, the particles are close but not fixed; they slide past one another, allowing liquids to flow and take the shape of their container. In a gas, the particles are far apart and move quickly in all directions. This is why gases can fill any space and have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume.

Observing Matter in Everyday Life

The differences in particle arrangement explain many familiar phenomena. For example, when you heat a solid like ice, its particles gain energy and vibrate more until they break free and become a liquid. When you boil water, the particles move even faster and spread out to become a gas, forming steam. Scientists use experiments such as Brownian motion—where tiny particles in liquid move randomly—to provide evidence that particles are constantly in motion. The rate at which particles move can be measured in meters per second, with gas molecules in air typically traveling over 500 meters per second at room temperature!

Applications and Broader Connections

Understanding the particle model has led to advances in technology and health. Refrigerators work by changing liquids into gases and back again, using the energy changes between particles to cool food. Aerosol sprays rely on the rapid movement of gas particles to push out liquid droplets. In environmental science, knowing how gases move helps us predict air pollution patterns. The particle model also connects to larger scientific ideas such as conservation of mass and energy, because even though particles move or rearrange, they are never destroyed in ordinary processes.

By studying how particles behave, scientists can design better materials, improve energy efficiency, and solve real-world problems. The particle model of matter is a fundamental concept in physical science, linking what we see with what happens at the invisible, microscopic level.

Interesting Fact: If you could line up the atoms in a single grain of sand, they would stretch across the width of a small city!

What are the tiny building blocks that make up all matter?

Atoms and moleculesCells and tissuesRocks and mineralsStars and planets

In which state of matter are particles packed tightly together in a fixed pattern?

LiquidSolidGasPlasma

What happens to the movement of particles when ice is heated and melts?

Particles slow down and stop movingParticles gain energy and start to move moreParticles disappearParticles become larger

Which term best describes the random movement of particles in a liquid observed by scientists?

Conservation of massBrownian motionChemical reactionFreezing point

What is the main reason gases can fill any available space?

Gas particles are far apart and move quicklyGas particles are tightly packedGas particles are not movingGas particles are larger than solid particles

What is conservation of mass?

Matter can be created or destroyed easilyMatter is never created or destroyed in ordinary processesMatter disappears when heatedMatter is made up of only one particle

Which state of matter allows particles to slide past each other so the substance can flow?

SolidLiquidGasCrystal

How does the particle model help in predicting air pollution patterns?

By showing how gas particles move and spread outBy showing how solids vibrateBy showing how liquids freezeBy showing how particles become larger

True or False: All particles in a solid are completely still and never move.

TrueFalse

True or False: The particle model of matter is only used for studying solids.

TrueFalse