why can gases be compressed

Gases can be compressed because their particles are spread out with a lot of space between them. This large amount of empty space allows the particles to be pushed closer together when pressure is applied, reducing the volume of the gas. In contrast, liquids and solids have particles that are already packed closely together, so they cannot be compressed easily. Additionally, gas particles have high kinetic energy and move rapidly, which helps them adjust their positions and occupy smaller volumes under compression.