Which statement about solids is true?

Which statement about solids is true?

• A. They always have the same volume as the liquid.
• B. They take the shape of their container.
• C. They have a definite shape and a definite volume.
• D. They flow to fill any space.

Answer: (C)

In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate mostly in place, so the material keeps its own shape and its own size. This arrangement means a solid does not flow or spread out to fill a container; it stays where it is and maintains a definite amount of space. The idea that solids always have the same volume as a liquid isn’t reliable—solids and liquids each have their own definite volumes, which can differ. It’s liquids (and gases) that take the shape of a container or flow to fill space. So the true statement is that a solid has a definite shape and a definite volume.

In a solid, particles are tightly packed and vibrate mostly in place, so the material keeps its own shape and its own size. This arrangement means a solid does not flow or spread out to fill a container; it stays where it is and maintains a definite amount of space. The idea that solids always have the same volume as a liquid isn’t reliable—solids and liquids each have their own definite volumes, which can differ. It’s liquids (and gases) that take the shape of a container or flow to fill space. So the true statement is that a solid has a definite shape and a definite volume.