Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do liquids differ from solids and gases in shape and volume?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
liquid
Figure 1: Phase diagram of argon.
Liquids differ from solids and gases in their specific combinations of shape and volume:
- Liquids: Have a definite volume but lack a definite shape. They conform to the shape of the container they occupy and flow under the action of external forces.12
- Solids: Possess both a definite shape and a definite volume. Unlike liquids, they do not flow and exhibit resistance to shear stress, maintaining their structure unless acted upon by forces that exceed their elastic limit.32
- Gases: Have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume. They expand to completely fill any closed container, meaning their volume is determined by the container rather than the substance itself.31
These macroscopic differences arise from atomic-level behavior: while atoms in a solid oscillate about fixed points, atoms in a liquid are mobile and wander throughout the material, allowing them to assume various geometric configurations.24