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GCSE Physics · key term
A small unit used in the particle model to represent matter, such as an atom or molecule.
Used by OCR
Specification P1.1e · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
Revise: Density and states of matterA box containing more particles has more mass in the same volume, so it has a greater density. Alternatively, if the same particles spread out to occupy a larger volume, the density decreases.
When comparing states, link particle spacing directly to mass per unit volume: particles that are further apart give less mass in the same volume.
Do not say that gas particles have no mass or that the spaces between them contain air. A gas has a low density because its particles are widely spaced.
Particle diagrams are simplified two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional arrangements; the particles themselves do not expand or shrink.
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