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💬 Think about it
Why is iron hard while water flows and air floats away? The particles are the same idea, but something holds them differently. Think of friends holding hands tightly, loosely, or not at all. That "grip" decides the state. Let's explore these forces.
What holds the constituent particles together?
- Particles are held by attractive forces.
- These are called interparticle attractions.
- Their strength depends on the substance and the distance.
- A small increase in distance weakens the force a lot.
Example:
Like two magnets, the closer the particles, the stronger they pull each other.
📚 Our scientific heritage
- Since ancient times people wondered what matter is made of.
- Acharya Kanad, an Indian philosopher, first spoke of the Parmanu (atom).
- He believed matter is made of tiny, indivisible, eternal particles.
- This idea was written in his work, the Vaisheshika Sutras.
Important Points
- Particles are held together by interparticle attractions.
- The force depends on the substance and the interparticle distance.
- The strength of these forces decides the physical state.
Important Definitions
- Interparticle attractions — the attractive forces that hold the constituent particles of matter together.
