Particle Nature of Matter

Physics SSS1 Second Term

WEEK 9

Particle Nature of Matter

Performance Objectives

Students should be able to:

1. Describe the structure of matter
2. Show the particle nature of matter
3. Explain the simple atomic structure, their nature, size, Brownian motion, Diffusion, state of matter.

Content

Structure of matter

Evidence of the particle nature of matter

The idea that matter is made up of minute particles called atoms dates back to the ancient Greeks. According to the Greek philosopher Democritus, a given piece of substance, say a piece of yam, can be cut into smaller and smaller bits, until eventually the smallest piece of that substance would be obtained which not be further subdivided. This smallest, indivisible, piece was called an atom. The…