States of Matter Interactive Simulation
Provided by: PhET Interactive Simulations|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Activity - Classroom
Subjects: Chemistry, Physics
Authors: PhET Interactive Simulations
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This interactive virtual experiment allows students to explore the three states of matter and their properties.
- Students can change the temperature, pressure, and volume of a gas, and observe the corresponding phase changes through animated diagrams.
- Students can also explore interaction strength between atoms with the Lennard-Jones potential graph.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource allows students to practice self-efficacy by constructing their understanding of the states of matter through exploration.
- There are both animations and graphical simulations, and the simplicity allows for a wide range of lessons at different skill levels.
Additional Prerequisites
- PhET can run on Windows Systems (Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome) and Macintosh Systems (macOS 10.13+, Safari 13+), preferably on the most updated browsers. Android and Linux systems are not officially supported. Browser extensions may need to be disabled if issues arise.
- Teachers will need to prepare specific instructions on how to engage with the simulation to maximize learning.
- Teachers can create a free account to access a teacher tips document, video primer, and numerous activities submitted by other teachers in alignment with the simulation.
- The simulation is translated into numerous other languages and some of these have translated teaching tips as well.
Differentiation
- Middle school students can use this simulation to learn about the states of matter, particle motion, thermal energy, and temperature.
- High school students can focus more on exploring the phase diagrams and interaction potential graphs.
- This resource is great for virtual or blended learning. Teachers can provide guiding questions and then let students explore on their own.
- This simulation could be explored individually or in groups depending on the availability of devices and the skill level of students.
- If devices for students are not available, teachers can use the simulation as a demonstration by projecting it. Students can still participate by suggesting changes to make in the system, answering questions posed by the teacher, drawing diagrams, and taking notes.
- This resource can be connected to climate change by exploring the properties of water vapor, which is an important greenhouse gas.
This interactive simulator is appropriate for students to navigate to gain insights into the process of states of matter. The simulator is up-to-date and the iteration process is valid. Thus, this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
