2.1.4

Shape of Substances

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Shape of Substances

Because of their different particle arrangements, solids, liquids and gases have different properties. Solids always keep their shape, whereas liquids and gases can change shape.

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Solids

  • Solids have a fixed shape.
  • If you put them in another container, they will not change shape.
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Liquids

  • Liquids can flow and change shape.
  • You can pour a liquid from a container of one shape into a container of another shape.
  • This is possible because the particles in a liquid can move around each other, letting the liquid become different shapes.
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Gases

  • Gases can change shape.
  • Gases can change their shape to fit any container.
    • They even expand to fill a larger container.
  • This is because there are large gaps between particles. So if a force is applied, the gas can be squashed or put into any new shape.

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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