Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Characteristics of Solids
- Characteristics of Liquids
- Characteristics of Gases
- Interchange of States of Matter
- Summary
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment, we learnt the characteristics of particles of matter and also defined the three states of matter. In this segment, we will look at the characteristics of each of these states of matter
What are the characteristics of solids?
Solids have a definite shape.
Because the particles of a solid are very close to each other, they have a definite shape. For example, solid objects like an iron nail, a book, or a wooden table.
Solids have distinct boundaries.
As solid objects have a definite shape, they have well-defined boundaries.
Solids have a fixed volume.
A body, with a fixed shape and a distinct boundary, has a fixed volume as well. This means the matter in these solid objects occupies a fixed amount of space.
Solids have negligible compressibility.
The tightly packed particles of solids make them rigid. That is why they retain their shape even when subjected to an external force. They may break under force, but they retain their shape.
For example, when a rubber band is pulled, it expands but it gets back to the original shape after the force is released. But at a certain point, it will break.
