Observing the force of attraction between the particles of the matter in Matter Around Us – Class 9 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Matter Around Us

Activity Name: Observing the force of attraction between the particles of the matter in Matter Around Us

Activity Description:

In this experiment, we will observe the force of attraction between the particles of matter by performing two activities. First, we will open a water tap and allow the water to flow to the ground.

Then, we will try to break the stream of water with our finger to understand if it can be broken permanently or momentarily. Next, we will attempt to break a piece of iron nail and a piece of chalk with our hands to observe if they can be broken or if they rejoin.

Required Items:

1. Water tap with running water
2. Iron nail
3. Piece of chalk

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Open a water tap and let the water flow to the ground.
2. Try to break the stream of water with your finger and observe if it breaks permanently or comes back together momentarily.
3. Repeat the process of breaking the stream of water at different points from the tap to the ground to see if there is any variation.
4. Take a piece of iron nail and attempt to break it with your hands.
5. Take a piece of chalk and try to break it with your hands as well.
6. Record your observations.

Experiment Observations:

1. The stream of water does not break permanently; it comes back together momentarily when we try to break it with our finger.
2. The stream of water cannot be broken at any point from the tap to the ground, indicating a continuous force of attraction between the water particles.
3. The iron nail cannot be broken with hands and remains intact.
4. The piece of chalk also does not break and remains whole.

Precautions:

1. Be careful while performing the experiment to avoid any injuries, especially when attempting to break the iron nail.
2. If using any sharp tools, handle them with care and adult supervision for safety.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

From the observations, we can conclude that the particles of matter have forces acting between them that keep them together. In the case of water, the force of attraction between its particles is strong enough to maintain the continuity of the stream.

Similarly, the force of attraction between the particles of the iron nail and chalk keeps them intact, making it difficult to break them with bare hands. This experiment demonstrates that the force of attraction between particles varies in different forms of matter.