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Listen&Learn: Superfluids

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

The liquids that can flow forever.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• viscosity: the resistance that slows the flow of a liquid
• approach: to get closer to something
• absolute zero: the lowest possible temperature, where all particles stop moving
• atom: the type of particle that forms chemical elements
• friction: the resistance between two objects moving against each other
• collide: to crash or bump into something

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

A superfluid is a unique type of that has zero viscosity. This means that it will never stop flowing. The only type of liquid that scientists can turn into a superfluid is liquid helium. Helium is the only substance that stays in liquid form even as its approaches absolute zero. Most substances freeze at much higher temperatures. When liquid helium is at a very low temperature, all of its atoms have the same amount of . This causes the substance to behave like one single atom instead of many. The atoms in superfluid helium don’t collide with each other, or transfer energy to each other. Because of this, there is no friction between the helium atoms. If a decided to stir a container of superfluid helium, the liquid would continue to spin around the container .

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20269″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. Because a superfluid has zero viscosity, it can move through tiny cracks and holes that a regular liquid can’t. How might that be a problem for scientists experimenting with superfluid helium?

Transcript

A superfluid is a unique type of liquid that has zero viscosity. This means that it will never stop flowing. The only type of liquid that scientists can turn into a superfluid is liquid helium. Helium is the only substance that stays in liquid form even as its temperature approaches absolute zero. Most substances freeze at much higher temperatures. When liquid helium is at a very low temperature, all of its atoms have the same amount of energy. This causes the substance to behave like one single atom instead of many. The atoms in superfluid helium don’t collide with each other, or transfer energy to each other. Because of this, there is no friction between the helium atoms. If a scientist decided to stir a container of superfluid helium, the liquid would continue to spin around the container forever.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

© EnglishClub.com

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11 comments

• Silvana says:
  

  A pertinent exercise to develop English skills

• NNAUCH urrutia says:
  

  Thank you so much. I like to learn Science in English. It also improves my English skills.

• Ricardo Pajares says:
  

  Thank you so much, I think this podcast is very useful for me so allows me to improve my listening and my vocabulary.

• Dorcas says:
  

  Thanks for this I have learnt more on the Science subject even in English. Thanks a lot.

• astral bob says:
  

  Hey dear, thank you. Its useful for me.❤

• The King Of Love From IRAN says:
  

  Thank you for sharing it with us,

• Sonja says:
  

  Very good article. I have learned something new.
  It is very useful for me because I have to practise the listening.
  Thank you

• Antoinette Kouadio says:
  

  It is extremely interesting. I am learning a lot of things. I like this ! I think that diligent learning will benefit me. The ball is in my court.

  THANKS !

• Dheeraj says:
  

  I get to know some physics terminologies and its details.Its really helpful for the begineers like me

• Christine PENNEC says:
  

  very good article

• Aunreun says:
  

  It’s very useful for me because listening is a big problem for me. I will try to more and more
  Thank you