States of Matter and Thermal Energy GCSE P1

Matter can exist in one of three states: solid, liquid or gas.

Each of these states has very different properties.

SOLIDS

• Molecules fixed in position

• Regular structure
• Tightly packed (dense)

LIQUIDS

• Molecules free to move about

• No structure
• Quite tightly packed
o Usually less dense than solids
o More dense than gases

GASES

• Molecules very spaced out

• Molecules free to move about
• No structure
• Molecules travelling much faster
o average air molecule 500m/s

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 States of Matter and Thermal Energy GCSE P1
Thermal Energy Physicists do not like the word
“heat” because it is ambiguous.
If a substance is hotter, it has more HEAT You can always use either
thermal energy or temperature
thermal energy. instead.

This means its molecules are vibrating more; they are moving faster. All atoms
are always vibrating to some extent.

COLD GAS HOT GAS

The hot gas is less
dense; its molecules
are more spaced
out.

COLD SOLID HOT SOLID

The molecules in
the hot solid are
vibrating faster.

To change a substance from one form to another, you must either heat it up
(increase its thermal energy) or cool it down (reduce its thermal energy).

Increasing thermal energy

SOLID LIQUID GAS

Decreasing thermal energy

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