Which statement best explains why a gas can be easily compressed under pressure while a solid cannot?
The particles in a gas are separated by large average distances, whereas the particles in a solid are closely packed.
The particles in a gas have much higher kinetic energy than those in a solid.
The individual particles in a gas can shrink in size when pressurized.
The particles in a solid are held together by much weaker forces than those in a gas.
321 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 2.1 Kinetic particle model of matter, covering 2.1.1 States of matter and changes of state, 2.1.2a Particle structure and motion in solids, liquids and gases, 2.1.2b Gas pressure and particle collisions, 2.1.2c Brownian motion, 2.1.3a The absolute scale of temperature, and 2.1.3b Pressure, volume and temperature of a gas. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.