States of Matter — GCSE Physics Revision
Revise States of Matter for GCSE Physics. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Internal EnergyWhat is States of Matter?
Matter exists in three main states: solid, liquid, and gas. The state of a substance depends on its temperature and pressure. The arrangement and movement of particles differ in each state. Solids have a fixed shape and volume, liquids have a fixed volume but take the shape of their container, and gases have no fixed shape or volume.
Board notes: Fundamental to all GCSE science courses. The particle model is used to explain the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
Describe the changes in the arrangement and motion of particles when ice melts. Solution: In ice (solid), water molecules are held in fixed positions in a regular lattice and vibrate. When ice melts to become water (liquid), the molecules gain enough energy to break free from the lattice. They are still close together but can now move past each other randomly.
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Common mistakes
- 1Thinking that particles in a solid do not move. They are fixed in a lattice structure, but they vibrate about their fixed positions.
- 2Confusing melting with dissolving. Melting is a change of state from solid to liquid due to heat. Dissolving is when a substance mixes with a solvent to form a solution.
- 3Forgetting that mass is conserved during a change of state. When a substance melts or boils, the number of particles does not change, so the mass remains the same.
States of Matter exam questions
Exam-style questions for States of Matter with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for States of Matter
Core concept
Matter exists in three main states: solid, liquid, and gas. The state of a substance depends on its temperature and pressure. The arrangement and movement of particles differ in each state. Solids hav…
Frequently asked questions
What is sublimation?
Sublimation is a change of state directly from a solid to a gas, without passing through the liquid state. An example is solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) turning into carbon dioxide gas.
What are the names of the changes of state?
The changes are: melting (solid to liquid), freezing (liquid to solid), boiling/evaporation (liquid to gas), condensation (gas to liquid), and sublimation (solid to gas).