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States of Matter: Exploring Solids, Liquids, and Gases

The world around us is composed of matter in three fundamental states: solid, liquid, and gas. These states differ in their
properties due to the behavior of their particles. Solids are characterized by having a fixed shape and volume. The particles in a solid
are tightly packed in a regular pattern and only vibrate in place, which makes solids rigid and incompressible. Everyday examples of
solids include rocks, ice, and iron.
Liquids have a fixed volume but no fixed shape, meaning they take the shape of their container. The particles in a liquid are
close together but not in a fixed position, which allows them to slide past one another. This property makes liquids flow easily and
assume the shape of their containers. Water, blood, and mercury are instances of liquids. Unlike solids, liquids have a surface that
can assume a horizontal level in a container.
Gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume. They will expand to fill any container they are placed in. This is
because the particles in a gas are much farther apart than in solids or liquids, and they move around freely at high speeds. This high-
speed movement and the significant space between particles make gases highly compressible. Examples of gases include oxygen,
nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. In everyday life, we interact with gases through the air we breathe and the carbon dioxide released
when we exhale.
C) Fixed volume
Questions with Multiple Choice D) Incompressibility
8. Why can't solids flow like liquids?
1. What is a characteristic feature of solid matter? A) Because their particles move at high speeds
A) Fixed volume but no fixed shape B) Because their particles are in a fixed position
B) High compressibility C) Because they have no definite shape
C) Fixed shape and volume D) Because they are highly compressible
D) Assumes the shape of its container 9. Which of the following is not a property of liquids?
2. Which state of matter has particles that are close A) Takes the shape of its container
together but not in fixed positions? B) Flows easily
A) Solid C) Particles are tightly packed in a regular
B) Liquid pattern
C) Gas D) Has a fixed volume
D) Plasma 10. Which example fits a gas state of matter?
3. Why do gases fill the entire container they are in? A) Gold
A) Particles are tightly packed B) Olive oil
B) Particles move at low speeds C) Nitrogen
C) Particles are far apart and move freely D) Sugar
D) Particles have a fixed position
4. What makes liquids assume the shape of their
container?
A) Rigidity
B) Incompressibility
C) The ability to flow
D) High-speed particle movement
5. Which of the following is an example of a solid?
A) Water
B) Oxygen
C) Ice
D) Alcohol
6. How are liquids different from solids in terms of
volume?
A) Liquids have no definite volume
B) Liquids and solids both have no definite
volume
C) Liquids have a fixed volume
D) Solids have no definite volume
7. What property is unique to gases compared to solids
and liquids?
A) Fixed shape
B) High compressibility