Compression of Substances
Science: KS3, topic 2.1.3
Compression of Substances
Because of their different particle arrangements, solids, liquids and gases have different properties.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Compression of Substances
Which of these can be easily compressed?
Which of these statements about compression is true?
Why does squeezing a sponge seem to compress it, even though solids cannot actually be compressed?