Why is there so much frozen water at Earth's poles? Because water is a polar molecule! Young scientists observe polar molecules moving in a mixture of oil and water. They see the changes in potential energy in the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

Concepts

oil, water, polar molecules, hydrophilia, hydroponics

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Discuss the changes in potential energy as the simulation runs
• Explain the difference in the speed of movement between the oil and the water

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of polar molecules and potential energy

Pros

• Allows pupils to move and rotate molecules to increase the challenge of the simulation
• Requires very little class time

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4