Clips and Strips
  • About
  • Molecules
  • Energy
  • Mass
  • Chemical Changes
  • Fuels
 
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE 0941820. 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.

Help for Molecules Module

Help with concepts and the model:
  • An atom is represented by a paper clip.
  • Different types of atoms are represented by different colors of paper clips.
  • Atoms are attracted to other atoms and pull together to form atom groups (molecules).
Help with the module:
  • Drag the correct color and number of paper clips onto the workspace to make the molecule.
  • Use the arrow keys on the sides of the instruction box to advance or go back one screen.

Help for Energy Module

Help with concepts and the model:
  • An energy unit is represented by a paper strip.
  • Different forms of energy are represented by different colors of paper strips.
  • Energy units can be transferred from one place or object to another.
  • When energy units are transferred, they stay in the same form.
  • Energy units can be transformed, or changed, into other forms of energy.
  • Energy units are forever - there is the same number of units before and after any change.
Help with the module:
  • Drag the correct number and form of paper strips to the before and/or after box to show the change in energy.
  • Use the arrow keys on the sides of the instruction box to advance or go back one screen.

Help for Mass Module

Help with concepts and the model:
  • Every atom has a tiny bit of mass.
  • Different types of atoms have different masses.
  • The mass of an atom group (molecule) is the sum of the masses of the individual atoms.
Help with the module:
  • Drag individual paper clips to the right-hand scale that make up the paper clip group on the left scale.
  • WATCH the scale reading to make sure the mass of each paper clip registers!
  • Use the arrow keys on the sides of the instruction box to advance or go back one screen.

Help for Chemical Changes Module

Help with concepts and the model:
  • Atoms in one molecule can be attracted to atoms in another molecule.
  • When molecules get close, the attracting atoms pull together to form their own atom groups.
  • The original atom groups are destroyed when the new atom groups form.
  • All of the original atoms (with their mass) still exist - atoms are forever.
  • The total mass of the original molecules equals the total mass of the new molecules.
Help with the module:
  • Click on the name of each molecule to make its image appear.
  • Drag the correct molecules to each scale.
  • WATCH the scale reading to make sure the mass of each paper clip group registers!
  • Make sure you have the same atoms on each scale and the same total mass.
  • Use the arrow keys on the sides of the instruction box to advance or go back one screen.

Help for Fuels Module

Help with concepts and the model:
  • Fuels molecules have carbon atoms attracted to other carbon atoms or hydrogen atoms.
  • Fuel molecules contain lots of chemical energy.
  • Non-fuel molecules (oxygen, water, and carbon dioxide) have little chemical energy.
  • The atoms in fuel molecules are attracted to the oxygen atoms in oxygen molecules.
  • When fuel and oxygen molecules get close, the attracting atoms pull together to form new atom groups.
  • The atom groups that form are water molecules and carbon dioxide molecules.
  • The original molecules of fuel and oxygen are destroyed when the new molecules form.
  • The chemical energy in the fuel molecules is changed into lots of thermal energy, some light energy, and a little chemical energy in the water and carbon dioxide molecules.
Help with the module:
  • Drag the correct molecules to each scale, remembering that burning a fuel with oxygen results in carbon dioxide and water.
  • WATCH the scale reading to make sure the mass of each paper clip group registers!
  • After you complete the change in matter, the change in energy boxes appear.
  • Start by dragging the “energy in fuel” to the before box. Choose a number at least 100 units.
  • Drag the energy in the “non-fuel molecule” (oxygen) to the before box. Choose a number no more than 10% of what you chose for the fuel energy.
  • In the after box, drag thermal energy units first, choosing a number around 50% of the total energy you started with.
  • Now, in the after box, drag the energy in the non-fuel molecules (water and carbon dioxide). Choose a number no more than 10% of what you chose for the fuel energy.
  • Last, in the after box, drag light energy units. Remember, the number of energy units has to be the same before and after burning.