Table of Contents
Can the particles in a gas be compressed into a smaller volume?
A gas has both the shape and volume of its container. The particles in a gas cannot be compressed into a smaller volume. Liquids tend to contract when heated. The particles in a solid are spaced far apart.
Can solid particles be compressed?
The particles in solids are very close together, therefore they cannot usually be compressed or squashed. Forces of attraction between the particles hold them together and keep them in place. The particles in solids are arranged in a regular way. The particles in solids move only by vibrating about a fixed position.
Why can a gas be compressed easily into a smaller volume?
In gases the particles are much further apart than in solids or liquids. Because the particles are moving about, a gas will fill any container that it is put into. Because there is space between the particles, they can be squashed into a smaller volume when the gas is compressed.
What are the particles of a gas?
Gases consist of very large numbers of tiny spherical particles that are far apart from one another compared to their size . The particles of a gas may be either atoms or molecules. The distance between the particles of a gas is much, much greater than the distances between the particles of a liquid or a solid.
Why are gases compressed into a smaller volume?
There is no space between the individual particles, so they cannot pack together. Gases are compressible because most of the volume of a gas is composed of the large amounts of empty space between the gas particles. Secondly, why can gas be compressed into a smaller volume? In gases the particles are much further apart than in solids or liquids.
Which is an example of the compression of matter?
This is an example of COMPRESSION, by applying force on the gas. When the mass increases, it means that more matter has been put into the container. However, as the container (solid – has a definite volume) did not change its size, the volume of the gas would remain the same.
Which is a property of gas that can be compressed?
One property of gas is that it has no definite volume and can be compressed. Hence, even when the mattress is fully inflated, air can still be pumped into the mattress as there are “empty spaces” between the air particles, just like in the aforementioned Scenario #2.
How are gas particles compressed in two scenarios?
As seen from the diagram, there is plenty of “empty space between the 4 units of gas particles (orange balls). With this “empty space” between the 4 units of gas particles, the gas particles have space to move. Thus, this allows the gas particles to be compressed. As mentioned earlier, compression can occur in two scenarios for gases.