PracticeQuestionsYears 1–7
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Particle model: states of matter

Year 7 bridging · Year 7 bridging · Y5 MP / KS3 Particles — Solids, liquids and gases

Draft — awaiting teacher review

Builds on: States of matter (Year 4)

I

Concept Anchor

Solid: particles packed in a regular pattern, vibrating. Liquid: particles close together but able to move past each other. Gas: particles far apart, moving quickly in all directions.

Worked example

Why can a gas be squashed but a solid cannot?

  1. 1.Recall spacing: gas particles are far apart.
  2. 2.Squashing pushes particles closer.
  3. 3.Solid particles are already touching.
  4. 4.So gases are compressible; solids are not.
II

Guided Check

What happens to the particles in ice as it melts?

    III

    Independent Diagnostic Practice

    Q1Year 7 bridgingKS3 Particles — States of matter·Fluency·●○○Draft — awaiting teacher review

    In which state are particles far apart and moving quickly in all directions?

    Q2Year 7 bridgingKS3 Particles — Changes of state·Reasoning·●●○Draft — awaiting teacher review

    When water evaporates from a puddle, what happens to the water particles?

    Q3Year 7 bridgingKS3 Particles — Properties·Problem Solving·●●●Draft — awaiting teacher review

    Why does a liquid take the shape of its container but keep the same volume?