particle model

A scientific model intended to explain the physical properties of substances in the three common states of matter. It imagines atoms, ions and molecules as tiny balls that are in constant motion, and which can be arranged and move in different ways.

	Solid	Liquid	Gas
Relative distance apart	Very close	Close	Far apart
Arrangement	Regular	Random	Random
Movement	Vibrate about fixed positions	Move around each other	Fast in all directions
2D diagram