Preview - Pnom - Particulate Nature Of Matter

Exploration 2 - Model Rules

In the next activity you will be working in a team of two people to build a model of the phenomena you observed. Using a "sandbox" model -- which is a model that provides the tools, agents, and behaviors of a system, but allows you to design the system -- you will attempt to replicate the behavior of odors as they move around a room.

The model is introduced below. Here is how you can run the model:

1. Press the SETUP button on the top left to reset the model.

2. Press the GO/STOP/ADD ELEMENTS button the run the model. This button will turn dark blue meaning the model is actively running. 

3. You can pause the model by clicking the GO/STOP/ADD ELEMENTS button again.

Explore the model freely and answer the questions below.

Questions

Please answer the questions below.

How can particles of different substances be distinguished from one another?

How can solid obstacles be added to the model?

How can removable obstacles (such as doors or lids) be removed or replaced in the model?

How can molecules be sped up or slowed down?

What visualization cues can change in the model to help you better see the relative speed of the molecules?

Once you have made a model, how will exporting the world help you conduct future experiments?

You will need to carefully consider the mechanism you are trying to model. In the space below, explain what mechanism you believe is responsible for the patterns observed in odor diffusion and describe how you intend to test whether or not your hypothesis is correct.

Notes

These notes will appear on every page in this lesson so feel free to put anything here you'd like to keep track of.