Thermal Physics

States of matter (2.1.a)

1. List the states of matter.
   Solids, liquids, gases
   

2. What is  a solid?
   A solid consists of atoms that are bounded together in a rigid structure.  As atoms in a solid do not have enough energy to break out of the structure, solids do not flow.  The hardness of a solid depends on the arrangements of its atoms.
   For example, the element carbon can exist in the soft form, graphite, or as one of the hardest solid forms on Earth, diamond. Thus, solids have definite shape and volume.
   

3. What is a liquid?
   A liquid is a substance that flows more freely as a gas.  When a substance is liquid its molecules possesses more energy than they have been in solids but less energy than they have when it is a gas.  This allows liquid to flow and take the shape of its container.  Liquids are much harder to compress than gases. Thus, liquids do not have fixed shape but have definite volume and can flow  
   

4. What is a gas?
   A gas is a state of matter in which molecules are so energetic and completely free to move.  When a gas is released inside a container, its molecules move randomly, spreading out to fill the whole container.  Thus,  gases do not have fixed shape, and definite volume but can flow  
   

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