States of Matter and Thermal Energy GCSE P1

Matter can exist in one of three states: solid, liquid or gas. Each of these states has very different properties.

SOLIDS LIQUIDS Molecules free to move about No structure Quite tightly packed o Usually less dense than solids o More dense than gases Molecules fixed in position Regular structure Tightly packed (dense) Molecules vibrating

GASES Molecules very spaced out Molecules free to move about No structure Molecules travelling much faster o average air molecule 500m/s

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States of Matter and Thermal Energy GCSE P1

Thermal Energy If a substance is hotter, it has more thermal energy.
Physicists do not like the word heat because it is ambiguous. You can always use either thermal energy or temperature instead.

HEAT

This means its molecules are vibrating more; they are moving faster. All atoms are always vibrating to some extent.

COLD GAS

HOT GAS The hot gas is less dense; its molecules are more spaced out.

COLD SOLID

HOT SOLID The molecules in the hot solid are vibrating faster.

To change a substance from one form to another, you must either heat it up (increase its thermal energy) or cool it down (reduce its thermal energy). Increasing thermal energy SOLID LIQUID Decreasing thermal energy GAS

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