The phases of matter can be ordered from the greatest average kinetic energy per particle to the least average kinetic energy per particle as follows:
- Gas - Particles are fast-moving and have high kinetic energy, allowing them to overcome intermolecular forces.
- Liquid - Particles are close together but can move past one another, resulting in lower kinetic energy than in gases, but more than in solids.
- Solid - Particles are tightly packed in a fixed arrangement and vibrate in place, resulting in the least average kinetic energy among the three phases.
So, the correct order from greatest to least average kinetic energy is:
Gas > Liquid > Solid