The phases of matter can be ranked based on the kinetic energy of their particles from least to greatest as follows:
- Solid - In solids, particles are tightly packed and vibrate in fixed positions, resulting in the least kinetic energy.
- Liquid - In liquids, particles are still close together but can move more freely than in solids, leading to greater kinetic energy than in solids.
- Gas - In gases, particles are far apart and move freely at high speeds, resulting in the greatest kinetic energy among the three phases.
So, the ranking from least to greatest kinetic energy is:
- Solid
- Liquid
- Gas