Unit 3: What powers a hurricane

Investigation 1: What makes water special?

In this investigation, students explore the properties of liquids to determine patterns in their molecular make-up. As a class, students investigate properties of water and work with peers to determine how the structure of water molecules can be used to predict and explain properties of water. Readings in this investigation support students in exploring natural phenomena that stem from water’s properties such as how a water strider can walk on top of the water.

HS-PS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.

Investigation 2: What happens to the energy of water molecule during hurricanes?

Students develop a model to explain what holds water molecules together in the liquid state. This will require them to analyze evidence and to make claims about what happens to water molecules during phase changes. Readings in this investigation support students in making connections between molecules, energy, and temperature changes. During class discussion, students share their claims in class, and support or refute ideas with the evidence collected to reach consensus. Finally, students will use their refined ideas to answer the question “What powers a hurricane?”

HS-PS3-2. Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as a combination of energy associated with the motions of particles (objects) and energy associated with the relative positions of particles (objects).

HS-PS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.