Chapter 8
Solids Liquids and Gases
States of Matter
There are 4 states of matter Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma. The state of the matter depends on the thermal energy contained in that matter. Remember from chapter 5 that all of the particles (atoms) that make up matter are moving. The difference between water and ice is that the molecules that make up water are moving faster than those that make up ice. The state of matter is defined by the Kinetic Theory of Matter.
Thermal Expansion
As thermal energy is added to matter it will expand. All matter will expand a different rates. This is dependent upon its thermal expansion coefficient, a property of each different type of matter. It is because of this expansion and contraction that bridges have to have expansion joints, and highways buckle under extreme prolonged heat.