READ: Phases of Matter

Properties of Solids, Liquids, and Gases

The most common states of matter on Earth are solids, liquids, and gases. How do these states of matter differ? Their properties are contrasted in the Figure below. You can also watch videos about these three states of matter at the following URLs.

Properties of Matter in Different States

Q: The Figure below shows that a liquid takes the shape of its container. How could you demonstrate this?

A: You could put the same volume of liquid in containers with different shapes. This is illustrated below with a beaker (left) and a graduated cylinder (right). The shape of the liquid in the beaker is short and wide like the beaker, while the shape of the liquid in the graduated cylinder is tall and narrow like that container, but each container holds the same volume of liquid.

Q: How could you show that a gas spreads out to take the volume as well as the shape of its container?

A: You could pump air into a bicycle tire. The tire would become firm all over as air molecules spread out to take the shape of the tire and also to occupy the entire volume of the tire.

CK-12 Foundation, Physical Science. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/