Competency #3
Answer and Explanation
Some of the characteristics below are found on page 414 of Hewitt et al, in the text and in Figure 17.5.1
Solids
- Particles have sufficiently strong inter-particle interactions (bonds) to hold them together in a fixed, 3-dimensional arrangement
- Individual particles, while not free to roam about, can vibrate in place
- Do not conform to the shape of their container
- Not easily compressible
Liquids
- Particles have more energy than in a solid and are not held in a fixed, 3-dimensional arrangement
- Particles can move past each other, but are still in close proximity to each other, due to inter-particle attractions
- Conform to the shape of their container
- Not easily compressible
Gases
- Particles have more energy than in a liquid
- Particles are moving fast enough that the inter-particle attractions cannot hold them together
- Conform to the shape of their container
- Easily compressible
1. Hewitt, Paul G., John Suchocki, Leslie A. Hewitt, Conceptual Physical Science, 3rd Edition, San Francisco: Addison Wesley, 2004.
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