Specific properties can be used to classify objects as solids or liquids.

Properties of Liquids

a.              Viscosity- the resistance to flow.

      As temp increases, viscosity decreases

          water flows easily= low viscosity;

   molasses doesn’t flow easily= high viscosity

b.              Surface tension- the tendency of a liquid

      to form a skin at the surface.  There are forces 

      of attraction between particles in a liquid in all  

   directions except at the surface. At the surface

   forces act only from below. The forces at 

      the surface are pulled inward and close

      together forming a skin. Like on gravy.

c.               Cohesion-  attraction between particles of the

      same substance.  (this contributes to surface

      tension)

d.              Adhesion-  attraction between particles of  

   different substances. For instance, when water

   droplets stick to surfaces.

Properties of Solids

a.              Malleability- can be hammered into thin sheets.  Usually found in metals.

b.            Elasticity- able to stretch out and return to its original shape.  Like a rubberband.  Also gives the ability to bounce, as in a rubber ball. 

c.               Brittleness-  breaking when hammered.

d.              Hardness-  the ability to resist being scratched.  Diamonds are the hardest substances in nature.  

e.              Tensile strength-  how well a solid resists breaking under stress.  Expansion bridges have to have very strong guidewires to hold up themselves and the traffic that goes over them.

Solids can be classified as

-                Crystalline (a solid where the particles are arranged in a regular, repeating, 3-D pattern) like salt, ice or diamonds.

-                Amorphous (a solid whose particles lack a regular, repeating order) like glass and wax.