What are the three physical states of matter?

The three physical states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Each state is characterized by distinct properties related to the arrangement and movement of its particles.

In solids, particles are tightly packed together and vibrate in fixed positions, giving solids a definite shape and volume. For liquids, the particles are still close together but can move past one another, allowing liquids to have a definite volume but not a fixed shape, adapting to the container they are in. Gases have particles that are far apart and move freely, resulting in no fixed shape or volume; they expand to fill the entire space available to them.

Understanding these states is fundamental to various scientific and practical applications. While plasma is a fourth state of matter—found in things like stars and neon signs—this option does not apply in the context of the most commonly referenced states in everyday scenarios. The inclusion of air in one of the choices is misleading, as air is a mixture of gases rather than a fundamental state of matter. Hence, focusing on solid, liquid, and gas encapsulates the foundational knowledge needed regarding the physical states of matter.