2.1.3

Compression of Substances

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Compression of Substances

Because of their different particle arrangements, solids, liquids and gases have different properties.

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Compression of solids

  • Solids cannot be compressed because the particles are already as close together as they possibly can be. So they cannot be pushed any closer.
  • Even if you squeeze very hard, a solid can never be compressed.
  • Some solids that contain pockets of gas can be compressed, such as a sponge.
    • Here, it is the gas that is being compressed; not the solid.
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Compression of liquids

  • Generally, liquids cannot be compressed because the particles are touching.
  • Although there are small gaps between the liquid particles, they are not big enough to allow compression. To make the gaps smaller, particles would have to overlap.
    • Because this is not possible, liquids cannot be compressed.
  • If a huge amount of force is used, then liquids can be compressed by a very tiny amount.
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Compression of gases

  • Gases can be easily compressed.
    • This is because there are large spaces between the particles.
  • When we try to compress a gas, the gaps between the particles just get smaller.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Disciplinary Knowledge

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