American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: What Is Water?
This comprehensive article provides information about the physical properties of water, the importance of water as an Earth material, the processes and cycles that water undergoes on Earth, its importance to life on Earth, and why we...
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Just a Phase: Water as a Solid, Liquid, and Gas
This site helps students construct a model of the arrangement of water molecules when present as solid, liquid or gas. Includes background information, lesson plans, links to standards and assessment ideas.
US Geological Survey
Water Properties
This site provides a discussion of the physical properties of water. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Lesson Plans: Surface Tension
Students observe and investigate why water has a strong surface tension.
New York University
New York University: States of Water
Use this resource to learn about the three different phases of water; solid, liquid, and gas. What happens to water as it changes into a solid or gas? Includes short and easy to do activity.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build a Motorboat Powered by Surface Tension
If you look carefully, you could find dozens of similar interesting phenomena that are all linked to the surface tension of water. Here is a project that will help you understand and measure the properties of water surface tension.
Other
Chem Cases: Nutra Sweet: Physical and Chemical Properties
An in-depth look at the physical and chemical properties of aspartame, or NutraSweet.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: States of Matter
Students act as chemical engineers and use LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics to record temperatures and learn about the three states of matter. Properties of matter can be measured in various ways, including volume, mass, density and...
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Physical States and Properties: Water: Properties and Behavior
Information relating to the properties of water and its behavior.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Freezing and Melting of Water
Freezing temperature, the temperature at which a substance turns from liquid to solid, and melting temperature, the temperature at which a substance turns from a solid to a liquid, are characteristic physical properties. In this...
NOAA
Noaa: More Than Salt in Salt Water [Pdf]
Realize that there is more in ocean water than just salt. Find out about the salinity of water and how changes in salinity may affect organisms living in the water.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Cold Can You Go?
Students explore materials engineering by modifying the material properties of water. Specifically, they use salt to lower the freezing point of water and test it by making ice cream. Using either a simple thermometer or a mechatronic...
University of Maryland
Lowering the Freezing Point of Water Using Salt
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of the effect of an ionic solute upon the freezing point of water. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Properties of Fluids in Reservoirs
This investigation will help students understand the physical relationships between natural gas, oil, and water in a reservoir and how these relationships can affect recovery.
University of Sydney (Australia)
University of Sydney: Structure and Properties of Materials/thermal Physics
An exhaustive set of "lecture notes" on various topics in thermal physics (including thermal expansion). Explanations are well done and more interesting than most. Includes both a mathematical and conceptual treatment of topics. Humor,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A River Runs Through It
This two-month project requires a nearby stream or river to use for testing. Students use river monitoring equipment to conduct water tests, fish observation, insect identification and to collect data related to physical properties of...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: What's the Matter: A Sinker or Floater?
Students will explore matter that sinks or floats when submerged in water and that matter is categorized as either a sinker or a floater. Students will work actively in small, cooperative learning groups as well as gather in a whole...
Chem Tutor
Chem Tutor: States of Matter
A very descriptive site that allows students to understand the different states of matter at the atomic level. Also discusses the process of phase changes and displays phase change graphs. Thermochemistry is also touched upon for high...
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Thorium
Information about the element, Thorium, atomic number 90. Covers physical properties, atomic properties, how abundant it is on the Earth, where it is found, and details about health-related regulations. Discusses thorium's potential use...
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History: Grow Rock Candy
Students can carry out an investigation using sugar and water to determine whether heating or cooling a substance may cause changes that can be observed. This activity reinforces the ideas that the properties of materials can change when...
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Geo Notes: Composition of Coal [Pdf]
Discusses the chemical and physical composition of coal and why understanding the chemical properties of coal is important for knowing how to process and use it.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Anatomy & Physiology: Body Fluids and Fluid Compartments
Learn about the chemical and physical characteristics of the fluids that make up the human body.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Who's Down the Well?
Drinking water comes from many different sources, including surface water and groundwater. Environmental engineers analyze the physical properties of groundwater to predict how and where surface contaminants will travel. In this lesson,...
Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington: Reference Documents: Calcite [Pdf]
A fact card describing the characteristics of calcite and its presence in limestone, its chemical and physical properties, and the composition and structure of a calcite unit cell.