Some students hold the idea that all atoms in a solid are arranged in a grid pattern
Properties of Matter
Misconception
Diagnostic Resources
The following worksheets may help to identify whether students hold this particular misconception.
For more information, see the University of York BEST website.
Resources to address this
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Examples of solids, liquids and gases (11-16)
Ref - Practical Physics; Molecules in motion; Evidence for atoms; Examples of solids, liquids and gases
An exhibition of a wide variety of natural and synthetic materials for students to look at and handle. As part of the discussion highlight the differences between sample with definate shapes and those without.
View Resource
References
The following studies have documented this misconception:
- Adbo, K. and Taber, K. S., () Learners' Mental Models of the Particle Nature of Matter: A study of 16-year-old Swedish science students, International Journal of Science Education, 31 (6)
757-786.