The states of matter

• Matter exists in three forms:

1. gas
2. liquid
3. solid

• NB There is a fourth state of matter: plasma but it is beyond the scope of the ordinary level syllabus
• Indeed there are other states but these are also beyond the
• A state is a principal condition in which matter exists
• Matter is governed by the kinetic theory
• According to the theory:
• the particles of matter move very fast and in all directions if matter is in gaseous form
• there are spaces between these particles
• the particles in a liquid move slowly over one another
• the particles is a solid do not move from their positions
• they only vibrate in fixed positions
• there are strong forces of attraction between the particles in a solid

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.