States and Properties of Matter

Physical Properties of Matter

These states of matter have physical properties that distinguish them from one another. Some of the physical properties are tabulated below:

Energy and Matter

All matter has energy. One form of energy is in the movement of particles that make up matter. It is this movement of particles that help define the properties of matter itself. The energy of moving matter is called Kinetic Energy.

Solid particles have the least energy to move, which is why they don’t change shape easily. Liquid particles have more energy than solid particles and gas particles have most of all. Hence, Kinetic Energy increases as the fluidity of matter increases (from solid to liquid to gas to plasma).

Another form of energy, Potential Energy, is associated with the position or condition of matter. It is associated with the matter at rest, yet having the ‘potential’ to do work in that state. Examples include the potential for a solid to fall from a height or for water behind a dam to flow to a lower position. Solids have higher potential energy due to the closeness of their particles. A solid with the ‘potential’ to fall down has more potential energy than a liquid in that position and least of all for a gas in that position. Hence, Potential Energy decreases as the fluidity of matter increases (from solid to liquid to gas to plasma).

Check Point

1. Two or more atoms combine to form a ______.
2. Intensely heating a gas creates a state called ______.
3. Which particles have the most Kinetic Energy?
   1. Liquids
   2. Solids
   3. Plasmas
   4. Gases
4. Which particles have the most Potential Energy?
   1. Liquids
   2. Solids
   3. Plasmas
   4. Gases
5. The form of energy associated with moving matter is called ______ energy.

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