CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STATES OF MATTER
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Franny the Fish wants to know if you have ever wondered what makes the water in an ice cube different from the water you drink or the water that forms steam?
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SOLID |
LIQUID |
GAS |
The particles that form solids are close together and make very little movement. The picture below shows the particles that make up a solid:
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The particles that form liquids are farther apart and they move about freely. The picture below shows the particles that make up a liquid:
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The particles that form gas are much further apart and move frequently. The picture below shows the particles that make up a gas:
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SOLIDBecause the particles that form solids are close together, all solids have a definite size and shape.
Look at the picture below. Can you identify the size and shape of this solid? SOLIDBecause all solids have a definite shape, whenever you put a solid in a container, it will never take the shape of the container. It will maintain its own shape.
Look at the picture below. Do the sneakers keep their shape when placed into a box? |
LIQUIDBecause the particles that form liquids are further apart, liquids do not have a definite shape. However, they do have a definite volume.
Look at the picture below. Does water that comes out of the faucet have a definite shape? Does the water have a definite volume? LIQUIDBecause all liquids do not have a definite shape, they will take the shape of whatever container they are poured into.
Look at the picture below. What shape does the water take when its is poured into a glass? |
GASBecause the particles that form gas are very far apart and move frequently, gas does not have a definite shape or volume.
Think of the air we breathe. It does not have a true shape and it cannot be seen by the eye, but we know it exists. GASAlthough gas does not have a definite shape or volume, gas will still fill any container it is introduced into.
Look at the picture below. Does the air fill the balloon? How do you know? |
NOW THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE STATES OF MATTER,
IT'S TIME TO HELP FRANNY THE FISH COMPLETE A FUN ACTIVITY.
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO BEGIN THE ACTIVITY.
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