We were taught 5 states (solid/liquid/gas/plasma/condensate (BEC and superconductors)), which has always felt like a decent enough explanation for 3rd graders. If you barely understand how to read a phase change diagram, you don’t really need the confusing duality of being told “hey so this is totally wrong if you’re a chemist, but fundementally true if you’re an engineer” when you’re still iffy on concepts like “vacuum boiling is not witchcraft”.
Huh, that’s really interesting. I’d have expected it was prior to condensate being introduced, not plasma, since plasma can be easily demonstrated in the classroom but condensates have really only been easily demonstrable for at most two decades. Very curious - do you remember if you had a standardized curriculum, and if so which one it was?
I also found it weird, I was taught 3 in school, but Plasma was already being considered a different state, just wasn’t taught in schools. Condensate had only just been experimentally created and I didn’t even knew about them until this thread.
5 senses
4 states of matter
fossil fuel (oil is made from dead dinosaurs)
the American Dream
China is evil
Communism is bad
We were taught 5 states (solid/liquid/gas/plasma/condensate (BEC and superconductors)), which has always felt like a decent enough explanation for 3rd graders. If you barely understand how to read a phase change diagram, you don’t really need the confusing duality of being told “hey so this is totally wrong if you’re a chemist, but fundementally true if you’re an engineer” when you’re still iffy on concepts like “vacuum boiling is not witchcraft”.
I’m clearly a bit older (prior to plasma categorized) and was taught 4.
Huh, that’s really interesting. I’d have expected it was prior to condensate being introduced, not plasma, since plasma can be easily demonstrated in the classroom but condensates have really only been easily demonstrable for at most two decades. Very curious - do you remember if you had a standardized curriculum, and if so which one it was?
I also found it weird, I was taught 3 in school, but Plasma was already being considered a different state, just wasn’t taught in schools. Condensate had only just been experimentally created and I didn’t even knew about them until this thread.
Honestly I think it was just three now that you mention it and the other reply. Have no clue the curriculum, it was in the 70s.