Movement of particles in a solid

Movement of particles in a solid

Gases, Liquids, and Solids

Gases, liquids and solids are all made up of atoms, molecules, and/or ions, but the behaviors of these particles differ in the three phases. The following figure illustrates the microscopic differences.

Note that:

  • Particles in a:
    • gas are well separated with no regular arrangement.
    • liquid are close together with no regular arrangement.
    • solid are tightly packed, usually in a regular pattern.
  • Particles in a:
    • gas vibrate and move freely at high speeds.
    • liquid vibrate, move about, and slide past each other.
    • solid vibrate (jiggle) but generally do not move from place to place.
Liquids and solids are often referred to as condensed phases because the particles are very close together.

The following table summarizes properties of gases, liquids, and solids and identifies the microscopic behavior responsible for each property.

Some Characteristics of Gases, Liquids and Solids and the Microscopic Explanation for the Behavior
gas liquid solid
assumes the shape and volume of its container
particles can move past one another
assumes the shape of the part of the container which it occupies
particles can move/slide past one another
retains a fixed volume and shape
rigid - particles locked into place
compressible
lots of free space between particles
not easily compressible
little free space between particles
not easily compressible
little free space between particles
flows easily
particles can move past one another
flows easily
particles can move/slide past one another
does not flow easily
rigid - particles cannot move/slide past one another

Movement of particles in a solid

General Information

Subject(s): Science

Grade Level(s): 8

Instructional Time: 1 Hour(s)

Keywords: Solid, liquid, gas, particles

Aligned Standards

This vetted resource aligns to concepts or skills in these benchmarks.

Aligned Access Points

This vetted resource aligns to concepts or skills in these access points.


SC.8.P.8.Su.1

Recognize three states of matter, including solids, liquids, and gases.

SC.8.P.8.Pa.1

Recognize examples of the gaseous state of matter, such as steam or smoke.

Other vetted resources related to this resource.

This chapter begins the first where we will look at matter on a microscopic scale.  Matter is made of small particles of atoms or molecules.  There are three common states of matter, solid, liquid and gas.  A gas and a liquid will change shape to fit the shape of their container.  A gas will change volume to fit the volume of the container.

  Definite shape definite volume
solid yes yes
liquid no yes
gas no no

 
 

In general, solids are denser than liquids, which are denser than gases. . The particles in the solid are touching with very little space between them. The particles in a liquid usually are still touching but there are some spaces between them. The gas particles have big distances between them.

SolidIn a solid, the attractive forces keep the particles together tightly enough so that the particles do not move past each other.   Their vibration is related to their kinetic energy.  In the solid the particles vibrate in place.

LiquidIn a liquid, particles will flow or glide over one another, but stay toward the bottom of the container. The attractive forces between particles are strong enough to hold a specific volume but not strong enough to keep the molecules sliding over each other.

GasIn a gas, particles are in continual straight-line motion. The kinetic energy of the molecule is greater than the attractive force between them, thus they are much farther apart and move freely of each other.  In most cases, there are essentially no attractive forces between particles.  This means that a gas has nothing to hold a specific shape or volume.

(A fourth state of matter, called plasma, exists when a gas becomes ionized. Plasma exists inside stars and in interstellar gases.)

Your book has an interesting animation on this subject and I urge you to view it. ( The States of Matter)

How do particles move in a solid liquid and gas?

gas vibrate and move freely at high speeds. liquid vibrate, move about, and slide past each other. solid vibrate (jiggle) but generally do not move from place to place.

What is the energy and movement of particles in solid?

Solid In a solid, the attractive forces keep the particles together tightly enough so that the particles do not move past each other. Their vibration is related to their kinetic energy. In the solid the particles vibrate in place.

What is particle movement called?

Brownian motion, or pedesis (from Ancient Greek: πήδησις /pɛ̌ːdɛːsis/ "leaping"), is the random motion of particles suspended in a medium (a liquid or a gas).