Which state of matter is most compressible under ordinary conditions?

Study for the Cambridge Science – States of Matter Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each question. Ready yourself for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which state of matter is most compressible under ordinary conditions?

Explanation:
Compressibility depends on how much empty space and freedom of movement the particles have. Gases have a lot of space between their particles and only weak interactions holding them together, so applying pressure pushes particles closer together and the volume can drop a lot. Solids are tightly packed in fixed structures, so there’s hardly any room to squeeze them and their volume changes very little. Liquids sit in between: their molecules are closer than in a gas and attract each other more, so they resist compression more than gases but less than solids. Plasma is an ionized gas and, in typical contexts, behaves similarly to gases in this regard, but the familiar answer under ordinary conditions is that gases are the most compressible.

Compressibility depends on how much empty space and freedom of movement the particles have. Gases have a lot of space between their particles and only weak interactions holding them together, so applying pressure pushes particles closer together and the volume can drop a lot. Solids are tightly packed in fixed structures, so there’s hardly any room to squeeze them and their volume changes very little. Liquids sit in between: their molecules are closer than in a gas and attract each other more, so they resist compression more than gases but less than solids. Plasma is an ionized gas and, in typical contexts, behaves similarly to gases in this regard, but the familiar answer under ordinary conditions is that gases are the most compressible.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy