Question

Describe the relationship between the states of matter and thermal energy (temperature).

Explain what are the 3 types phases of matter.

Explain how temperature impacts the atoms movement in each phase.
One sentence for an 8th grader

Answer 1

The states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—are closely related to thermal energy (or temperature), as temperature measures how much thermal energy the particles in a substance have, affecting how they move and behave.

**1. Solid:** In a solid, the particles are tightly packed together and vibrate in place, so they have low thermal energy and keep their shape.

**2. Liquid:** In a liquid, the particles are still close together but can slide past each other, which allows them to take the shape of their container as they gain a bit more thermal energy.

**3. Gas:** In a gas, the particles are far apart and move quickly in all directions because they have high thermal energy, allowing them to fill the entire space of their container.