Name: ________________________________
Date: _____________________
Period: ____
Tiny particles in constant motion make up all matter. This idea is called the kinetic theory of
matter. The atoms and molecules in solids, liquids, gases and plasma are always in motion.
They shake, spin, and bounce around. There are three main types of motion of atoms and
molecules.
Rotation – spinning on an axis
Vibration –move rapidly to and fro
Translation – moving from one location to another
1. Which type of motion involves moving from one location to another? ___________________
2. Which type of motion involves moving back and forth in the same place?
___________________
3. Which type of motion is most similar to a planet spinning on its axis?
___________________
4. Which types of motion are most likely to be found in particles of matter in the solid state?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Rotation and translation
Vibration and translation
Rotation and vibration
None of the above
The particles in solid matter are held close together by forces between them. This is why a solid
can’t be squeezed into smaller space. All solids have a definite shape and volume, as well as a
definite melting point. Compared to liquids and gases, solids usually have higher densities and
are harder to compress. Most solids are arranged in repeating geometric patterns. These
arrangements are called crystals. There are seven basic crystal shapes. Some materials (glass,
wax) appear to be solid but are not made up of crystals. They are called amorphous solids.
Amorphous means “having no form”. Wax flows very slowly, unless in direct sunlight on a
summer day. The thicker bottom of an old glass window shows that glass is an amorphous solid.
5. What characteristic in NOT shared by all solids?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Definite volume
Hard to compress
Crystal form
Definite melting point
Name: ________________________________
Date: _____________________
Period: ____
6. Which term best completes this analogy:
Crystalline is to regular as amorphous is to
a. Random
b. Orderly
c. definite
d. dense
7. Table salt has a cubic structure, meaning that samples of salt exist in the shape of cubes. Into
what class of matter does salt best fit?
a. crystalline solid
c. amorphous solid
b. gas
d. liquid