Final answer:
Matter, anything that occupies space and has mass, exists mainly in three states—solid, liquid, and gas—with each state characterized by the kinetic energy of its particles. Solids are rigid with vibrating particles; liquids take the shape of their container and have a fixed volume; gases take the shape and volume of their container with freely moving molecules. Some matter can exhibit multiple state properties under certain conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of your question involves the three common phases of matter which are solid, liquid, and gas; characterised respectively by their differing levels of molecular kinetic energy. Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. Different states of matter are distinguished by their unique properties: solids have a definite shape and are composed of molecules vibrating in place; liquids take the shape of their container, forming a flat or slightly curved surface when acted upon by gravity; gases take both the shape and volume of their container, composed of atoms or molecules in lofty motion.
The states of matter can be further differentiated by the motion or kinetic energy of their comprising particles. The hotter an object is, the higher the kinetic energy or motion of its particles—this makes temperature a gauge of the average motion energy of a body’s constituent particles. It’s fascinating to note that some forms of matter can exhibit properties of singular or multiple states under certain conditions, such as sand acting like a liquid when poured, or amounting to more than one state when in a mixture.
Learn more about States of Matter