To properly assess which student is correct in ranking the states of matter by potential energy, we need to clarify the typical rankings based on the properties of solids, liquids, and gases.
Generally, the ranking of states of matter by potential energy from lowest to highest is as follows:
- Solid: Particles are closely packed together in a fixed arrangement, which means they have low potential energy.
- Liquid: Particles are close together but can move past one another; they have more potential energy than solids but less than gases.
- Gas: Particles are far apart and move freely; they have the highest potential energy due to the significant distance between particles.
If you could provide the rankings each student proposed, I would be happy to identify which student has the correct ranking based on this understanding of potential energy in states of matter.