Physical Changes

Lab Brief #4

🎯 Your mission

Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.

⚡ The twist

Color changes mean atoms are rearranging — even if you can't see them.

What you'll learn

Physical changes alter the appearance of matter without changing its chemical identity. Cutting paper, melting ice, and dissolving sugar are all physical changes.

Key words

physical change
A change in how matter looks without making a new substance.
chemical change
When matter turns into a new substance, like wood burning.
melting point
The temperature at which a solid turns into a liquid.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you mix: what color do you think it'll turn?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Heat ice and record the temperature every minute as it melts and then boils. Graph the temperature changes and label each phase change.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Question 1 of 3

What makes a physical change different from a chemical change?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

Which is an example of a chemical change?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What is an example of a physical change?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🌈 Every color you see is your brain inventing a translation of light frequencies.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: Evaporation and Condensation All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This is happening in your kitchen right now — every time food cooks.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Find one ingredient in a snack and look up what it does.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's something we cook that mixes things together this way?”

🧱Share card

Share this experiment

Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

Physical Changes

Next Smart Experiment

Share this experiment

Physical Changes

Done with science? Try something else

Your Cart (0)