Moving'Molecules—The'Kinetic'Molecular'Theory'of'Heat'
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Purpose:'
The$purpose$of$this$lab$is$for$students$to$determine$the$relationship$between$temperature$and$
speed$of$molecules$in$a$liquid.$
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Key'Science'Topics:'
• Kinetic$Molecular$Theory$of$Heat$
• Temperature$scale$conversion$
• Heat$vs.$temperature$
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Grade'Level:'
• Physical$Science,$Grades$6A9$
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Student'Prior'Knowledge:'
• Students$should$be$able$to$define$the$Kinetic$Molecular$Theory$of$Heat.$
• Students$should$know$how$to$convert$between$Celsius,$Fahrenheit,$and$Kelvin.$
• Students$should$know$the$difference$between$heat$and$temperature.$
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Materials:'
Each$lab$group$should$have$the$following:$
• Three$beakers$labeled$A,$B,$and$C$
• One$color$of$food$coloring$
• Colored$pencil$or$crayon$that$matches$the$color$of$the$food$coloring$
• Hot$water$
• Iced$water,$be$sure$not$to$get$any$ice$in$beakers.$
• Room$temperature$water$
• Timer$
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Suggestions:'
$ To$begin$the$lab,$I$have$students$record$the$temperature$of$the$room$temperature$
water$and$begin$recording$data$for$that$beaker.$$As$students$are$recording$data,$I$circulate$
throughout$the$room$and$pour$cold$water$into$each$groups’$beaker.$$As$I$am$doing$this,$I$am$
heating$up$water$in$the$lab$microwave.$$The$water$temperature$should$be$hotter$than$room$
temperature,$but$not$hot$enough$to$cause$injury.$$I$have$also$done$this$lab$while$teaching$in$a$
math$classroom$and$have$had$a$coffeemaker$on$hand$to$heat$the$water.$$If$you$do$not$have$
enough$glass$beakers$for$every$group,$make$sure$the$hot$water$beaker$is$glass,$and$the$rest$can$
be$made$of$plastic.$
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