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Britannica School, Encyclopedia Britannica. "Matter." 8 Aug. 2025,
.Britannica School, Encyclopedia Britannica. "Gas." 15 Jul. 2025,
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Instructions:
1. Choose ONE topic from the list below.
2. Use Britannica School to find at least two credible sources.
3. Summarize your findings in your own words (minimum 1 page).
4. Include: Title, key facts, one diagram or image, and a Works Cited section.
5. Be prepared to share your research with the class.
1
Topic Chosen - States of Matter
(How do solids, liquids, and gases differ at the particle level?)
States of Matter - By Damian Berti
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. All matter is made of tiny particles called atoms and molecules. The State of matter (solid, liquid, or gas) changes based on how fast these particles move and how close they are to each other.
Solids - In them, particles are packed tightly together in a still pattern. Because they are so close, they attrct each other strongly. The particles do not move around, they can only vibrate in place. Did you know that solids have a definite shape and a definite volume? You can’t compress them easily.
Liquids - In liquids, particles have more energy than in a solid. They are still close together, but are not in a still pattern. The particles can slide past one another. This is what makes the liquid flow. Did you know that liquids have a definite volume but an indefinite shape? They take the shape of their container.
Gas - In gas, particles have a lot of energy. They are very far apart and the attraction between them is weak. The particles in gasses move quickly in all directions, crashing into each other. Gas has no definite shape or volume. They spread out to fill their container and are easy to compress.
Comparison between all States of Matter
Feature
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Order
Tightly Packed of Atoms
Closely packed atoms but random
Atoms are far apart
Movement
Can only vibrate
Can slide past each other
Can move fast freely
Shape
Definite
Indefinite
Indefinite
Volume
Definite
Definite
Indefinite
There are no rows in this table
MLA Citations (ya, I’m not that stupid to leave this out, I looked up a ... literally)
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