Why are bricks more likely to break than bend? Young science scholars peer inside a ceramic block and examine the effects of downward force at the molecular level. Learners can apply three different levels of force before observing their effects on the model.

Concepts

force, ionic compounds, ionic bonds, ceramics, intermolecular forces

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the resource to illustrate the properties of ionic solids and intermolecular forces
• Ask class members to describe the behavior of the ceramic model when they apply different amounts of downward force
  

Classroom Considerations

• The instructions shown in the About tab direct the user to another interactive that shows metallic forces; click here for this resource
• Briefly discuss the composition of common ceramic substances before the class uses the resource
  

Pros

• Teachers can step the simulation forward and backward, allowing pupils to examine individual interactions more closely
• The atoms in the ceramic model exhibit realistic motion

Cons