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Solid, liquid, gas: the same particles
SCI-1 Everything is made of tiny particles
What many people think
Particles of ice are colder and harder than particles of water.
The idea
Heating does not change the particles, only how fast they move and how far apart they are.
Explain it
A friend says ice is cold because its particles are cold. Using the words “move” and “apart”, explain what really differs between ice and water.
Try at home
Fill a cup with ice and a little cold water. Stir and read a kitchen thermometer every minute: it stays near 0 °C until the last ice has melted, even though the room keeps adding heat.