Deep Dive IBDP Physics: - B.2 Greenhouse Effect Teacher Resource Pack

Teaching Thermal Physics in the IBDP Physics syllabus can be a truly rewarding experience—when students connect microscopic motion to macroscopic phenomena, it sparks curiosity about everything from engines to weather patterns. But engaging students in these concepts takes more than just textbook theory. It requires well-structured, hands-on resources that translate abstract principles into tangible, visual experiments.

We’re excited to present two powerful and classroom-tested activities that bring thermal physics to life:

• Demonstrating Thermal Expansion in Solids, Liquids, and Gases

• Using the Kinetic Theory to Explain Thermal Phenomena

These activities are perfect for IBDP teachers looking to strengthen conceptual understanding, promote analytical thinking, and offer real-world applications. Let’s explore how they align with the IBDP Physics curriculum and how they can transform your classroom.

🔥 1. Demonstrating Thermal Expansion in Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Curriculum Focus: Thermal Properties of Matter | Expansion | Practical Physics Applications

This multifaceted activity helps students visually observe and measure how substances expand with heat across all three states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas. It encourages inquiry and supports data-driven analysis through real-time measurement and calculation.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how thermal energy affects particle motion in different states

• Calculate linear and volumetric expansion using standard formulas

• Compare thermal expansion coefficients for solids, liquids, and gases

• Discuss real-world applications of thermal expansion in science and engineering

What’s Included:

• Solid expansion with a metal rod heated on a hot plate

• Liquid expansion observed in a beaker of water

• Gas expansion demonstrated using a sealed balloon or syringe

• Materials list with thermometers, rulers, and a stopwatch

• Calculation instructions using:

  • for solids

  • for liquids

  • or the ideal gas law  for gases

Classroom Benefits:

• Engages visual and kinesthetic learners with direct observations

• Reinforces particle theory through practical experimentation

• Encourages scientific analysis by comparing expansion across states

• Links theory to engineering problems like bridge joints, piping, and cryogenics

Sample Discussion Questions:

• Why does a gas expand more than a solid under the same temperature change?

• How would an engineer design around the effects of thermal expansion?

• What are some challenges in measuring expansion in real-world structures?

🌡️ 2. Using the Kinetic Theory to Explain Thermal Phenomena

Curriculum Focus: Kinetic Model of Gases | Gas Laws | Temperature and Energy

This engaging activity connects microscopic particle motion to macroscopic properties like pressure and temperature, using simple experiments with a piston or syringe and key equations from thermal physics. It’s an ideal way to help students internalize the core of the kinetic theory through practical measurement and analysis.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand that temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy

• Use the ideal gas law to explore the relationship between pressure, volume, and temperature

• Observe the effects of compression and expansion on gases

• Connect real-world examples like tire pressure and engine efficiency to classroom theory

What’s Included:

• Setup using a sealed piston or syringe

• Tools for recording temperature, pressure, and volume

• Calculations using:

  • The ideal gas law:

  • Average kinetic energy:

Classroom Benefits:

• Promotes data collection and analysis using physical observations

• Bridges abstract theory with everyday phenomena like:

  • Air pressure increases on hot days

  • Why gases heat up during compression

• Ideal for internal assessments, allowing students to vary temperature, volume, and pressure while comparing theoretical predictions

Sample Discussion Questions:

• What happens to particle motion during gas compression?

• How does this experiment model processes in refrigeration or combustion engines?

• How accurate is the ideal gas law when used at classroom conditions?

🔍 Why These Thermal Physics Activities Are a Must-Have

✔ IBDP-Aligned and Conceptually Robust

Each activity ties directly to the IBDP Physics curriculum and targets key learning outcomes from the Thermal Physics topic. They offer opportunities for both qualitative understanding and quantitative problem-solving—exactly what examiners are looking for.

✔ Hands-On, Inquiry-Based Learning

Students don’t just memorize theory—they explore it. By manipulating variables and observing outcomes, learners gain a first-hand appreciation for particle motion, energy transfer, and the principles that govern them.

✔ Excellent for Internal Assessment (IA)

Both activities offer rich data collection opportunities and allow for independent manipulation of variables—ideal traits for developing a high-quality IA.

✔ Easy to Set Up with Everyday Materials

No advanced lab equipment is required. You can run these activities with:

• Basic lab tools (syringes, thermometers, balloons)

• Heat sources (hot plates, warm water baths)

• Common lab supplies like rulers and beakers

🚀 Bring Thermal Physics to Life in Your Classroom

These two activities give you everything you need to confidently teach the most fascinating and applicable aspects of thermal physics. With real-world relevance, intuitive setup, and strong alignment to the IBDP curriculum, they’re the perfect addition to your teaching toolkit.

Whether you’re explaining why metals expand in the heat or how molecules move in compressed air, these experiments will spark curiosity and deepen understanding for every student.

👉 Get started today—add these comprehensive resources to your classroom and make thermal physics unforgettable.