Cooling
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe and explain what happens to very hot water as it cools.
Key learning points
- The higher the temperature of a hot drink, the faster its particles are moving.
- A hot drink makes the particles in the air around it move more quickly.
- The particles of a hot drink begin to move less quickly as they transfer energy to the air particles.
- The greater the temperature difference between a hot drink and the air, the faster it cools down.
Keywords
Surroundings - the space around an object
Cooling rate - how quickly the temperature of an object falls
Cooling curve - a line graph that shows how a cooling object’s temperature changes with time
Energy - a solid object has energy in its thermal store because its particles are vibrating
Dissipate - to spread out
Common misconception
The energy of hot objects disappears (is destroyed) as they cool.
Placing a cup of hot water into a surrounding bowl of cold water that is warmed without the waters mixing demonstrates how surroundings are heated as energy is dissipated.
Teacher tip
A data logger can be used to measure a cooling curve of hot water, with a graph projected onto a screen shown in real time (or over the course of a whole lesson).
Equipment
Kettle, beaker, thermometer, clamp and stand, timer.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In a piece of pure copper, what is there in the tiny gaps between particles of copper?
Q2.Starting with the slowest, sort the following states of matter of water in order of increasing speed of the particles of water in each.
Q3.Which of the following options help to prevent a thermometer falling onto the floor between measurements in an investigation?
Q4.Starting with the weakest, sort the following states of matter of iron in order of increasing strength of the force holding particles together.
Q5.What is the approximate temperature of a classroom?
Q6.Match each of the following examples to the correct temperature.
37°C
41°C
83°C
-8°C
6°C
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When boiling water is poured from a kettle into a mug, why is the temperature of the water in the mug always less than 100°C?
Q2.Which of the following describes a cooling rate?
Q3.A cooling curve shows how a cooling object's temperature changes with .
Q4.What does a steeper line on a cooling curve tell you about how quickly the temperature of a substance is falling?
Q5.Raising the temperature of water increases the amount of __________ it has.
Q6.When an object cools down, its energy is into the surroundings.
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: Cooling, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: Cooling, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Heating and cooling unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.