Navigating Complexity - Learning with Connected Chemistry 1
Appendix A: Connected Chemistry (CC1) Pre- and Post-test Content Knowledge Questionnaire
Question 1
A group of players want to play basketball, so they bring out a basketball that looks fine. But, when they try to bounce the ball, it does not bounce well (see picture 1, below left). After pumping the ball with air it bounces very well (see picture 2, below right).
Let us say that we could take a snapshot of the air particles inside the basketball, as the pictures above show. In the drawings on the next page we will represent these particles. The particles are represented as much larger than they are in reality. We assume that the size of the basketball does not change.
Which picture best shows the way air particles could be distributed in the basketball BEFORE it gets pumped up? (B)
Question 2
Which picture best shows the way air particles could be distributed in the basketball AFTER it gets pumped up? (C)
Question 3
The following graph shows how the air pressure inside the basketball changed with time.
Which of the following could have caused the pressure to change in this way? (D)
o The basketball was pumped up with air.
o The basketball had a leak (a hole which lets air come out), the leak was then fixed.
o The basketball was placed in a very cold container and then taken out until it warmed up.
o Someone stepped on the basketball, squishing it and making it smaller, then got off, so that it returned to its original shape.
Question 4
A basketball is pumped with air. Let's assume that the size of the ball doesn't change and that the temperature is constant. How are the properties of a single gas particle related to the pressure in the ball? (A)
o On average, each gas particle hits the wall at the same rate. However, having more particles in the ball increases the overall rate of wall hits, thus increasing the ball’s pressure.
o When the basketball is pumped with air, the gas particles become bigger and fill up the basketball, causing the pressure to rise.
o When there are more gas particles in the basketball, each particle on average collides with other particles more often. As a result, each particle hits the walls more often, increasing the ball’s pressure.
o When the basketball is pumped with air, this causes the gas particles to move faster, on average. As a result, they hit the basketball’s wall more often, thus increasing the pressure.
Question 5
Two balls have the same volume and are at the same temperature. The pressure in the first ball is 15 psi and the pressure in the second ball is 45 psi. How are the number of air particles in each ball related to one another? (A)
o The second ball has 3 times the number of air particles as the first ball.
o The second ball has 30 times the number of air particles as the first ball.
o The first ball has 3 times the number of air particles as the second ball.
o The first ball has 60 times the number of air particles as the second ball.
Question 6
Which of the following rules does NOT describe the behavior of air particles, according to the Kinetic Molecular Theory (KMT)? (D)
o Gas particles move in straight lines, until they collide with something.
o When gas particles hit the wall, they bounce away, with no change in speed.
o Gas particles are much smaller than the distance between them.
o When two gas particles collide they react and form a new substance.
Question 7
How would you describe the relationship between the volume of the container (V) and the temperature of the gas (T)?
V describes the volume of the container.
T described the temperature of the gas.
k is a constant number.
o V x T = k
o V x T2 = k
o V = k x T2
o V = k x T
Question 8
Imagine a box with a wall inside it as in the following picture. One side of the box [ A ] contains a gas. A window is then opened in the wall that separates the two parts of the box.
Which statement best describes the gas particles motion? (A)
o The gas particles in A are moving randomly about. If they happen to reach the window they go through it to B. Particles from B can go back to A.
o The gas particles in A are moving randomly about. If they happen to reach the window they go through it to B. Particles from B will not go back to A.
o The gas particles in A are moving randomly about. When the window opens, the particles head for the window to fill the empty side of the box, B. Particles from B can go back to A.
o The gas particles in A are moving randomly about. When the window opens, the particles head for the window to fill the empty side of the box, B., Particles from B will not go back to A.
Question 9
Which graph best describes the pressure in the two boxes, before and after the window was opened? (A)
Question 10
If the gas in the box is heated, will that change what happens to the gas when the window is opened? (C)
o If the gas is heated, the particles move faster, and hit the wall more often. However, this doesn’t make a difference in how they go through the window. Therefore, the gas will go through the window at the same rate.
o If the gas is heated, the particles become larger, making it more difficult for them to go through the window. Therefore, the gas will go through the window more slowly.
o If the gas is heated, the particles become larger, making it more difficult for them to go through the window. Therefore, the gas will go through the window more slowly.
o If the gas is heated, the particles move faster, hit the wall more often, and have a better chance of reaching the window and going through. Therefore, the gas will go through the window more quickly.
o If they gas is heated, the particles will rise to the top of the box, and will not reach the window. Therefore, the gas will go through the window more slowly.
Question 11
When two gas particles collide (A)
o both their speed and direction will change.
o their direction can change but not their speed.
o their speed can change but not their direction.
o neither their speed not direction will change.
Question 12
How would including the attraction among particles change the RATE OR FREQUENCY at which a single particle reaches the wall? (B)
o The rate would not change.
o The rate would decrease.
o The rate would increase.
Question 13
The following diagram shows a piston in a sealed cylinder. In (b) the piston has been pushed in. No air entered or left the cylinder. Let us assume that no energy was added or removed and that the temperature is constant.
The volume is (B)
o the same
o larger in (a)
o larger in (b)
Question 14
The density of the air is (C)
o the same
o larger in (a)
o larger in (b)
Question 15
The average speed is (A)
o the same
o larger in (a)
o larger in (b)
Question 16
The pressure is (C)
o the same
o larger in (a)
o larger in (b)
Question 17
Frequency of particle collisions is (C)
o the same
o larger in (a)
o larger in (b)
Question 18
What is the volume of the air inside the cylinder? (A)
o After moving the wall, the volume of the container is 10 milliliters.
o After moving the wall, the volume of the container is 250 milliliters.
o After moving the wall, the volume of the container is 70 milliliters.
o After moving the wall, the volume of the container is 50 milliliters.
Question 19
Select the response that best defines pressure (C)
o The force exerted on the surface of an object.
o The number of particles in a container per unit volume.
o The force exerted on the surface of an object per unit area.
o The energy involved in an object pushing on another object.
Appendix B: Pre- and Post-test Content Knowledge Questionnaire Alignment with Conceptual Framework
Form of Access / Submicroscopic / 6, 11, 12
Macroscopic / 13, 16, 19
Symbolic / 7
Bridges / Submicroscopic/Macroscopic / 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17
Models/Physical World / -a
Conceptual/Math Model / 3, 5, 9, 18
Note. The numbers refer to those in the questionnaire in Appendix A.
a The SUMS questionnaire is used to assess this bridge
Appendix C: Content Knowledge Embedded Assessment Items Alignment with Conceptual Framework
Submicroscopic / Volume and Pressure / 11. How can you describe the motion of a single particle?
o The particles tend to move more to the right than to the left.
o The particles move in a random motion, depending on the initial direction and what objects they collide with.
o The faster particles rush into the empty space that has opened up.
o The vacuum formed when the wall moves sucks in the particles.
Experimenting with particles / 7. When a particle hits the wall:
o the particle changes direction, but not speed
o the particle changes speed, but not direction
o the particle changes direction and speed
o nothing changes.
8. When two particles collide:
o the particles change direction, but not speed
o the particles change speed, but not direction
o the particles change direction and speed
o nothing changes
Macroscopic / Number and Pressure / 17. When only the number of particles increases, then the pressure in a closed container will:
o Increase
o Decrease
o Remain constant.
Temperature and Pressure / 12. Pressure in bike tires changes throughout the course of a year, even if there are no leaks in the tire and even if not air is pumped in. This is because changes in the temperature outside cause changes in the temperature and pressure of the gas inside the tire.
o What will happen to the pressure in a bike tire as the seasons change from summer to fall, to winter?
o The pressure will remain the same
o The pressure will drop
o The pressure will rise
16. When only the temperature of the gas increases, then the pressure in a closed container will:
o Increase
o Decrease
o Remain constant.
Volume and Pressure / 9. When the volume was increased, the gas
o became more dense than before
o became less dense than before
o stayed about as dense as before
23. When only the Volume of the container increases, then the pressure in a closed container will:
o Increase
o Decrease
o Remain constant
Submicroscopic/Macroscopic Bridge / Changing Pressure / 6. When is pressure zero?
o When particles are away from the walls.
o Never.
o When particles hit the walls.
18. When particles more randomly in all directions, the walls are hit more evenly and the pressure is more stable. Which of these events causes the particle motion to become more randomly and evenly distributed?
o Particles become faster or slower when they collide with each other.
o direction changes when particles collide with each other.
o direction changes when particles hit the wall.
o all of the above.
Temperature and Pressure / 4. Why does the temperature of the gas increase gradually after you heat the walls?
o because the particles change their speed and energy only when they hit the wall. When they hit the wall, they speed up. It takes time for all the particles to hit the wall enough times to become faster, and so it takes time for the temperature to stabilize at a higher value.
o because the particles change their speed when they hit the wall and collide with each other. When they hit the wall, they speed up. When they collide with each other, they can exchange energy and change their speed, so that the energy is distributed among the particles. Since it takes time for the particles to hit the wall enough times and collide with each other, temperature stabilizes gradually.
o because the particles speed up and slow down only when they collide with each other and exchange energy, distributing the energy among the particles. Since it takes time for the particles to collide with each other enough times, the temperature increases slowly.
o I do not know.
13. [ continued from question 12 above ]This is because:
o The particles move faster and hit the tire wall more often.
o the particles move slower and hit the tire wall less often.
o The average particle speed does not change.
o Particle speeds are always random.