Add a drop of dye to the edge of the system by clicking in a corner of the simulator space.

How does the red dye eventually diffuse throughout the simulation space?

Question

Add a drop of dye to the edge of the system by clicking in a corner of the simulator space.

How does the red dye eventually diffuse throughout the simulation space?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

In this question, we’re asked to reason about how dye spreads in a diffusion-like simulation and to evaluate each statement.
Option 1: 'We actually still don’t know the forces that are at play in this phenomenon.' This is overly vague and ignores the basic principle of diffusion being driven by concentration gradients; in a typical diffusion simulation, the forces are effectively those pushing particles from regions of high concentration to low concentration.
Option 2: 'Dye movement is totally random, but all movement is away from where the dye was placed.' While microscopic motion is random, diffusion is not characterized by a uniform push away from the origin. Instead, dye molecules move randomly but the overall effect is a net flow from high to low concentration, not a consistent radiating push outward from the starting point.
Option 3: 'Solvent (blue) molecules push the dye away from where it was placed until equilibrium is reached.' This implies a direct pushing force from solvent molecules that deterministically displaces dye outward. In many diffusion models, solvent effects contribute to mixing, but the key behavior is the stochastic motion of solute particles leading to a gradual spread, not a directed pushing mechanism by solvent per se.
Option 4: 'Dye movement is totally random, but there is *net* movement of dye from high concentration to low concentration.' This captures the essence of diffusion: individual dye particles move randomly, yet the ensemble shows a net transfer from regions of higher concentration to lower concentration until equilibrium is approached. It reflects the statistical tendency of particles to diffuse down their concentration gradient.
Throughout the evaluation, keep in mind the core diffusion concept: random motion at the microscopic level yielding a macroscopic gradient-driven spread. Misconceptions in options 1 and 2 stem from either claiming no mechanism or mischaracterizing the directionality of movement, while option 3 attributes a specific solvent-driven push that is not the standard explanation for diffusion in this kind of simulation. The most accurate descriptor among the choices is the one that acknowledges random motion with a net gradient-driven flux from high to low concentration.

AGRI10050_2025_SM1 W4 Prep: Diffusing molecules (5-10min)

Add a drop of dye to the edge of the system by clicking in a corner of the simulator space. How does the red dye eventually diffuse throughout the simulation space?

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