Periodic Table
Review the article about states of matter at the Lycos Network Web site. While solids, liquids, and gases are the most familiar states of matter, a fourth state of matter, plasma, also is being studied. Review States of Matter, then click the plasma link at the bottom of the page. What are some places in the universe where matter in plasma state is found?
Plasma
Read about plasma and view the plasma images on this web site. Plasmas do not regularly occur on Earth because special environmental factors are needed for matter to exist in this state. How can a plasma be made in an artificial environment here on earth?
Chem 4 Kids - Plasma Basics
Matter is anything that has mass or takes up space. Choose plasmas on the states of matter map. How does plasma form? Scroll down this page to "so you want to be a plasma" to find out.
Environmental Chemistry
Explore the interactive periodic table at Environmental Chemistry's Web site to find out the freezing temperature of different elements. Click an element in the chart. Click the Who / When / Where / How link to review historical information about this element's discovery and to find out about its uses. Record the freezing point in Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit.
Encarta Encyclopedia
Read the Encarta Encyclopedia article about freezing point. The freezing point of a pure liquid is essentially the same as the melting point of that substance in its solid form. This is the temperature at which the solid and liquid states of a substance are at equilibrium. What substance has a lower freezing point when increased pressure is applied to it?
USA Today
Visit the weather site at USA Today to read the article More about evaporation and condensation. The temperature of the air, the water vapor in the air, and the surface of liquid water determines whether condensation or evaporation will happen. What weather phenomena occur when evaporation is overwhelmed by condensation?
What Are Contrails and How Do They Form?
Visit this site to learn how contrails are similar to your breath being visible on cold winter days. How is humidity related to forming contrails or when your breath becomes visible on cold days?
National Institutes of Health
Visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute site at the National Institutes of Health Web site to investigate blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of the blood in your body against the wall of your arteries. Click the links from the main page called Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure. What are the effects of high blood pressure on different organs in your body?
How Stuff Works
Read the How does a blood pressure cuff work? page at How Stuff Works. A blood pressure gauge is a way to measure the effectiveness of your heart's ability to pump blood throughout your body. What are the two numbers used in measuring blood pressure, and what do they indicate?
Silly Putty
Visit the official Web site for Silly Putty to learn about how it was invented and its different properties. Click the History 101 link to read about how James Wright took his work on synthetic rubber substitutes and created a toy that has been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Click the Silly Science link to watch a video of how Silly Putty is manufactured. Describe the process for making Silly Putty.
Alfred University
Read about Silly Putty at this site at Alfred University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Web site. This article describes the physical and chemical properties of Silly Putty and even offers a recipe for making your own homemade goo. What compounds make up the composition of Silly Putty?
