Particle Model

• Particle Model


  Everything is made up of lots of tiny particles and describes how those particles behave in the three states of matter - solids, liquids and gases
• The Particle Model can Explain the Three States of Matter


  1. Particles that make up matter are tiny balls

  2. Explain the ways that matter behaves in terms of how these tiny balls move, and the forces between them

  3. The three states of matter are solid, liquid and gas

  4. The particles of a substance in each state are the same, only the arrangement and energy of the particles are different
• Solids


  • Strong forces of attraction hold the particles close together in a fixed, regular arrangement
  • The particles don't have much energy so they can only vibrate about their fixed positions
  • The density is generally highest in this state as the particles are closest together
• Liquids


  • There are weaker forces of attraction between the particles
  • The particles are close together, but can move past each other, and form irregular arrangements
  • For any given substance, in the liquid state its particles will have more energy than in the solid state (but less energy than in the gas state)
  • They move in random directions at low speeds
  • Liquids are generally less dense than solids
• Gases


  • There are almost no forces of attraction between the particles
  • For any given substance, in the gas state its particles will have more energy than in the solid state or the liquid state
  • They are free to move, and travel in random directions and at high speeds
  • Gases have low densities
• The higher their kinetic energy


  The faster particles move