Shape of Substances
Science: KS3, topic 2.1.4
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.
Solids
- Solids have a fixed shape.
- If you put them in another container, they will not change shape.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Shape of Substances
What is true about the particles in a gas?
Which are true of the three states of matter?
A liquid changes shape to fit its container, but does not expand into a bigger one. A gas can do both. What lets a gas expand into a bigger container?