Lesson T6.1.2

T6.1.2 Solids, liquids and gases Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T6.1.2, Solids, liquids and gases: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 6: Matter and particles, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which state of matter has a fixed shape and a fixed volume?

    • Liquid
    • Solid
    • Gas
    • Steel bar

  2. Which state of matter takes the shape of its container but has a fixed volume?

    • Solid
    • Liquid
    • Gas
    • Vacuum

  3. Which state of matter always fills the whole of its container?

    • Solid
    • Gas
    • Steel bar
    • Liquid

  4. Which state of matter is easiest to compress?

    • Gas
    • Solid
    • Steel bar
    • Liquid

  5. Which statement describes particles in a solid?

    • They do not move at all
    • They vibrate about fixed positions
    • They are arranged randomly and close together
    • They move freely and far apart

  6. Which statement describes particles in a liquid?

    • They do not move at all and stay still in one place
    • They are close together and can slide past each other
    • They are very far apart and move freely in every direction
    • They are held in a fixed regular pattern and do not move

  7. Which statement describes particles in a gas?

    • They are fixed in a regular pattern
    • They are far apart and move quickly in all directions
    • They vibrate about fixed positions
    • They are close together and slide past each other

  8. Why is a solid usually denser than a gas at the same temperature?

    • Its particles have no motion
    • Its particles are much closer together
    • Its particles are all of the same size as the gas particles
    • Its particles are much lighter

  9. Ice floats on water. What does this tell you about ice?

    • It is denser than liquid water
    • It has the same density as liquid water
    • It is less dense than liquid water
    • It has no mass

  10. Which property of a solid is explained by its particles being held in fixed positions?

    • It spreads out to fill a room
    • It flows to fill a container
    • It is easy to compress
    • It keeps a fixed shape

  11. Why are liquids difficult to compress compared with gases?

    • Their particles are already close together, leaving little space to squash
    • Their particles are much heavier than the particles of a gas
    • Their particles are electrically neutral and do not repel each other
    • Their particles are stationary and cannot be pushed together

  12. A sealed syringe contains air. What happens when the plunger is pushed in?

    • The air turns into a liquid that fills the bottom of the tube
    • The air becomes a solid plug that blocks the end of the syringe
    • The air's mass is destroyed as it is squeezed into the tube
    • The air is squashed into a smaller volume

  13. Which of these is a key difference between liquids and gases?

    • Liquids have a fixed volume but gases do not
    • Gases are always more dense than liquids
    • Liquids have no particles but gases do
    • Liquids cannot flow but gases can

  14. Which arrangement of particles matches a solid?

    • Particles spread through the entire container at high speed
    • No particles at all
    • Particles far apart and moving at random
    • Particles in a regular pattern, closely packed

  15. Why does a gas exert pressure on the walls of its container?

    • Its particles stay still against the walls
    • Its particles are heavier than the walls
    • Its particles collide with the walls as they move
    • Its particles are attracted to the walls

  16. Which property do solids, liquids and gases all share?

    • They all have mass
    • They all can be compressed easily
    • They all have a fixed shape
    • They all have a fixed volume

  17. What happens to the density of a gas if it is squeezed into a smaller volume with no mass lost?

    • It becomes less dense
    • It stays exactly the same
    • It disappears
    • It becomes more dense

  18. Which of these explains why a liquid spreads out across the bottom of a bowl?

    • Its particles are far apart in a vacuum
    • Its particles repel the bowl
    • Its particles can move past one another
    • Its particles are fixed in a grid

  19. A solid is heated until it melts. Which statement about the particles is correct?

    • They are destroyed in the process and replaced by new particles
    • They become fixed in a regular pattern that does not change
    • They stop moving completely and become locked in one place
    • They move more freely and can slide past each other

  20. What is the best description of a gas?

    • A substance with particles held in a fixed pattern that stays still
    • A substance made of particles that never move from their positions
    • A substance whose particles are far apart and move in all directions
    • A substance with a fixed shape and a fixed volume that does not change

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