States of Matter

I. Matter usually occurs in one of three stages on Earth

1. Solid - each atom and or Molecule has a relatiively fixed position

2. Liquid - atoms and or Molecules are free to movve but still remain relativley close to each other (also takes the shape of it's container)

3. Gas - atoms and or Molecules move freely andd independently; gas pressure occurs when gas molecules bump into the walls of its container

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4. Plasma - atoms and or Molecules move freely as in a gas, but has a higher energy than a gas; this only exists in higher temps such as stars and our Sun