A student views models of the particles in two phases of matter.

Which question will help the student determine which model is a gas?
A.
Do the particles vibrate in position?

B.
Are the particles electrically charged?

C.
Do the particles slide past each other?

D.
Are the particles moving very quickly?

1 answer

The question that will help the student determine which model is a gas is:

D. Are the particles moving very quickly?

In a gas, the particles move rapidly and are spread out, allowing them to fill the volume of their container. In contrast, particles in solids vibrate in position and in liquids, they slide past each other but do not move as quickly as gas particles.