Short: demo of a molecular microscope Uploader: bradcln cln etc bc ca Type: misc/edu Architecture: m68k-amigaos Gyrus software presents ########################### ## ## ## Gas Laws Demo ## ## ## ## R. McCarter ## ## ## ## © 1992 ## ## ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ## ## ## ########################### Gas Laws Demo is a freely distributable limited version of a commercial program called Gas Laws (© 1992). Please copy and distribute Gas Laws Demo to any interested users. Gas Laws itself is not freely distributable but may be purchased for $29.95 cdn from R. McCarter Gyrus Software RR3 Site 312 C 53 Port Alberni B.C. Canada V9Y 7L7 Gas Laws simulates a molecular microscope. This is a fictional piece of laboratory equipment that allows an experimenter to observe the motions of atoms in a small chamber. The experimenter is able to control the temperature and volume of the chamber and the number of atoms in the chamber. Gas Laws has been created to help students form a mental model of the Kinetic Molecular Theory and to understand the relationships between pressure, temperature and volume in gases through experiment. The KMT is usually learned passively, by lecture, demonstration or film and although students may be able to answer test questions at the knowledge level, they are frequently unable to apply their knowledge to novel problems. The discrepancy lies in a conflict between the new information and a previously learned mental model of how gases behave. When given a new problem, information learned by rote is quickly thrown out, supplanted by the preexisting mental model. Gas Laws allows active participation in learning about gases at a molecular level and is a powerful tool in creating the concepts needed to understand the behaviour of gases.