classifying materials (solids,liquids,gases)
by Red Hughes
1. solids
2. particles are fixed in a regular pattern, the forces between the particles are strong, the particles are tightly packed together and they vibrate. solids have a definite shape and volume, solids are not easily compressed and do not flow
3. changing of state
4. heating causes the particles in a solid to vibrate more and eventually they have enough energy to break their bonds to become an liquid. further heating causes more movement of particles and eventually the liquid will boil as the particles jump free of the liquid state into the gas state
5. cooling causes the particles in the gas to slow down and eventually they don't have enough energy and condense into a liquid. further cooling will cause less movement of particles and eventually the liquid particles will bond to form the solid state where the particles vibrate.
6. liquids
7. gases
8. particles are places in an irregular pattern, strong forces between the particles, they are close together yet still move freely. liquid has a definite volume, it takes the shape of its container. it is not easily compressed.
9. gases have an irregular pattern, the forces between the particles are very weak, the particles are far apart and move very fast. the particles fill the container they are in. they are easily compressed and flow easily.
