Activity Number 172

	Overview and Learning Objectives
	Central Concepts
	Textbook References
	Benchmarks and Standards
	Activity Credits
	Requirements

The Relationship Between Interaction Strength and Melting Point

Interactive model, with minimal support

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Java 1.5+ - Java 1.5+ is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X 10.4 and greater. If you are using Mac OS X 10.3, you can download MW Version 1.3 and explore within it instead.

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	Overview and Learning Objectives Students discover the relationship between interaction strength and melting point. Through this activity, students should learn that for crystals, higher melting temperature is a result of stronger bonding among atoms. return to top



	Central Concepts Key Concept: The interaction strength (the potential well depth parameter Epsilon): At a given temperature, increasing Epsilon will result in condensation, and decreasing Epsilon will lead to melting. Additional Related Concepts Physics/Chemistry Melting point return to top



	Textbook References Biology: Exploring Life - Chapter 4: The Chemical Basis of Life return to top



	Benchmarks and Standards AAAS THE PHYSICAL SETTING: ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS - Different energy levels are associated with different configurations of atoms and molecules (Full Text of Standard) THE PHYSICAL SETTING: THE STRUCTURE OF MATTER - The configuration of atoms in a molecule determines the molecule's properties (Full Text of Standard) NSES Physical-Science: Energy Conservation / Entropy - 3 Heat consists of random motion and the vibrations of atoms, molecules, and ions (Full Text of Standard) return to top



	Activity Credits Created by CC Project: Molecular Workbench using Molecular Workbench return to top



	Requirements Java 1.5+ - Java 1.5+ is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X 10.4 and greater. If you are using Mac OS X 10.3, you can download MW Version 1.3 and explore within it instead. return to top

These materials are based upon work supported
by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers
9980620, ESI-0242701 and EIA-0219345

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the National Science Foundation.

The Relationship Between Interaction Strength and Melting Point

Overview and Learning Objectives

Central Concepts

Additional Related Concepts

Textbook References

Benchmarks and Standards

Activity Credits

Requirements