Solids, Liquids & Gases (AQA GCSE Physics Combined Science): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
3.1.2 Solids, Liquids & Gases
Solid
- Arrangement:
- Regular arrangement
- Fixed shape
- Particle Movement:
- Particles vibrate around a fixed point/position
- Compressibility:
- Hard to compress
Liquid
- Arrangement:
- Particles close together
- Takes the shape of the container
- Particle Movement:
- Particles can move (flow)
- More kinetic energy (KE) than solid
- Compressibility:
- Hard to compress
Gas
- Arrangement:
- Particles widely spread
- Fills the shape of the container
- Particle Movement:
- Particles move quickly and randomly
- Most kinetic energy (KE)
- Compressibility:
- Extremely easy to compress
Table of States of Matter Characteristics
| State of Matter | Gas | Liquid | Solid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape and Volume | Assumes the shape and volume of its container | Assumes the shape of the part of the container which it occupies | Retains a fixed volume and shape |
| Particle Movement | Particles can move past one another | Particles can move/slide past one another | Rigid • particles locked into place |
| Compressibility | Compressible, lots of free space between particles | Not easily compressible, little free space between particles | Not easily compressible, little free space between particles |
| Flow | Flows easily, particles can move past one another | Flows easily, particles can move/slide past one another | Does not flow easily, rigid • particles cannot move/slide past one another |