In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate. What property does this give to the solid?

In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate. What property does this give to the solid?

• A. Definite shape but no definite volume
• B. No definite shape or volume
• C. Free flow and fill container
• D. Definite shape and volume

Answer: (D)

When particles in a solid are tightly packed and can only vibrate in place, they stay in a fixed arrangement. That keeps the solid’s shape and its size constant, so it has a definite shape and a definite volume. Because the particles don’t flow past one another, a solid doesn’t take the shape of its container or spread out to fill space like liquids or gases. In contrast, liquids have a definite volume but take the container’s shape, and gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.

When particles in a solid are tightly packed and can only vibrate in place, they stay in a fixed arrangement. That keeps the solid’s shape and its size constant, so it has a definite shape and a definite volume. Because the particles don’t flow past one another, a solid doesn’t take the shape of its container or spread out to fill space like liquids or gases. In contrast, liquids have a definite volume but take the container’s shape, and gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.