While we all agree that matter has mass and volume, we're still a little curious as to why we smell something that's a solid, especially since we're thinking something (even with the smallest amount of mass and volume) has to be entering our noses.
But what we don't get, is how can we smell something that isn't heated. We watched as menthol was heated and cooled and had a great discussion (and review) about phase changes and what drives them (increase/decrease in heat energy).
How does this all relate to when something isn't obviously going through a phase change? How can we explain this? We're using the pHet States of Matter Simulator to help us better understand our thinking!
But what we don't get, is how can we smell something that isn't heated. We watched as menthol was heated and cooled and had a great discussion (and review) about phase changes and what drives them (increase/decrease in heat energy).
How does this all relate to when something isn't obviously going through a phase change? How can we explain this? We're using the pHet States of Matter Simulator to help us better understand our thinking!
We noticed and wondered a lot from this simulator, and will work to establish consensus for how we smell something...especially as it relates to phase change (or not?!?!).