The three common phases (or states) of matter are:
- Solid: In solids, particles are tightly packed together in a fixed, rigid structure. Solids have a definite shape and volume and are incompressible because their particles vibrate in place but do not move freely
- Liquid: Liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container. Their particles are close together but can move past each other, allowing liquids to flow. Liquids are relatively incompressible compared to gases
- Gas: Gas particles are widely spaced and move independently at high speeds. Gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume and will expand to fill any container. Gases are highly compressible due to the large spaces between particles
These three phases differ primarily in the arrangement and movement of their particles, which affects their density, shape, volume, and compressibility
