Why does a solid have a fixed volume?

1 Answer
Sep 4, 2017

Look at its kinetic particle theory model.

Explanation:

https://www.slideshare.net/sYhira/kinetic-particle-theory-slg-introduction-presentation

Because it is closely packed and can only vibrate about fixed positions, it is unable to occupy more or less volume than itself at r.t.p. (the only time a solid could occupy more space is when you heat the solid ---- an experiment to demostrate that is the ring and ball experiment)

Hence, solids would have a fixed volume.