Solids Liquids & Gases

The different states of matter

The Learning Objectives for this Lesson:

1. Describe the motion of particles in a solid.

2. Describe the motion of particles in a liquid.
3. Describe the motion of particles in a gas.
Vocabulary:

• Solid • Surface tension

• Crystalline solid • Viscosity
• Amorphous solid • Gas
• Liquid • Pressure
• Fluid
Solids Liquids & Gases

• Do you know what some TV’s are

referred to as LCD TV’s?
• LCD stands for Liquid Crystal
Display.
• Liquid crystals are a solid until they
receive a tiny amount of energy
and they become a liquid.
How do you describe a solid?

• A solid has a defined shape and a

definite volume.
• Your pencil is an example of a solid. It
has a shape and a volume. It will
keep that shape and volume no
matter what container you put it in.
• A fixed, closely packed arrangement
of particles causes a solid to have a
definite shape and volume.
 Types of Solids

• In many solids the particles

form a regular, repeating
pattern. These patterns are
called crystalline solids.
• Salt, sugar and snow are
examples of crystalline
solids
• When a crystalline solid is
heated it melts at a specific
temperature.
Types of Solids

• In amorphous solids, particles are not arranged in

regular patterns. Unlike a crystalline solid, an
amorphous solid does not melt at a distinct
temperature.
• It may become softer and softer as it heats or change
into other substances.
Types of Solids

• Glass is an example of
an amorphous solid. A
glass blower can bend
and shape glass that
has been heated.
How do you describe a liquid?

• Without a container, liquids

spread into wide shallow
puddles.
• Like a solid a liquid has a
constant volume.
• A liquid has a volume, but
no distinct shape. The
shape will change with its
container.
 How do you describe a liquid?

• Particles in a liquid are

packed almost as tightly as a
solid. However, the particles
in a liquid move around each
other freely. Like a group of
marbles in your hand.

• Because a liquid can flow

from place to place, it is called
a fluid, which means a
“substance that flows.”
Properties of liquids

• Surface tension in an
inward force, or pull,
among the molecules in a
liquid that brings the
molecules on the surface
closer together. This allows
water to bead up on some
surfaces.
Properties of liquids

• The surface tension lets the surface

of water act a little like skin.
Mosquitos and other insects can
“stand” on water.

• Viscosity is another property of

liquids. Viscosity is a resistance to
flowing, it depends on the size and
shape of its particles.

• High viscosity liquids flow slowly. Low

viscosity liquids flow quickly.
How do you describe a gas?

• Like a liquid, gas is a fluid. Unlike a

liquid, a gas has no defined shape
or volume. If a gas is in a container,
the gas molecules will move and
spread apart until they fill the
container.

• When working with gas it is important

to know its volume, temperature and
pressure.
How do you describe a gas?

• Volume is the amount of space that matter fills. Volume is measures in cubic
centimeters cm3, cubic meters m3, milliliters mL, liters L and other units.
Because a gas will fill a container, the volume of gas is the same as the
volume of its container. Gas can be compressed.

• Pressure Gas particles constantly collide with each other and the walls of the
container. As a result, the gas pushes on the walls of the container.

• The pressure of gas is the force of the outward push divided by the area
of the walls of the container. Pressure is measured in units of Pascals (pa)
How do you describe a gas?

• Temperature is a measure of the average energy of random motion of the

particles of matter, the faster the particles are moving, the greater the energy
and the higher the temperature.

Another way to say that…

• The higher the temperature the faster the particles are moving.
THE END