Question

Which of the two: liquid state or solid state is rigid?

Answer 1

Rigidity:

1. The energy possessed by a particle due to its motion is called kinetic energy
2. The particles of solids are closely packed and the empty spaces between the particles are very small.
3. Due to the close packing of the particles, they can only vibrate about their fixed positions because they cannot move freely.
4. As a result, the kinetic energy of the particles in the solid-state is very less
5. That's why solid have fixed and rigid shapes.
6. The particles in the liquids are not closely packed as in the case of solids.
7. Due to loose packing, attractive forces between them are weaker than in solids.
8. Thus, the interparticle distances in liquids are more than in solids.
9. The particles in a liquid state can move freely and thus have higher kinetic energy than the solids.
10. Therefore, liquids flow and they are not rigid.

Hence, out of the liquid and solid, the solid state is rigid.