Name:_____________________________________________________ Grade
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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.
7. What property is unique to gases compared to
Questions with Multiple Choice
solids and liquids?
A) Fixed shape
1. What is a characteristic feature of solid
B) High compressibility
matter?
C) Fixed volume
A) Fixed volume but no fixed shape
D) Incompressibility
B) High compressibility
8. Why can't solids flow like liquids?
C) Fixed shape and volume
A) Because their particles move at high
D) Assumes the shape of its container
speeds
2. Which state of matter has particles that are
B) Because their particles are in a fixed
close together but not in fixed positions?
position
A) Solid
C) Because they have no definite shape
B) Liquid
D) Because they are highly compressible
C) Gas
9. Which of the following is not a property of
D) Plasma
liquids?
3. Why do gases fill the entire container they are
A) Takes the shape of its container
in?
B) Flows easily
A) Particles are tightly packed
C) Particles are tightly packed in a regular
B) Particles move at low speeds
pattern
C) Particles are far apart and move freely
D) Has a fixed volume
D) Particles have a fixed position
10. Which example fits a gas state of matter?
4. What makes liquids assume the shape of their
A) Gold
container?
B) Olive oil
A) Rigidity
C) Nitrogen
B) Incompressibility
D) Sugar
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