Question:
Why dont solids flow?
Answer:
go to a clothes shopping website, most of them will tell you what materials the clothes are made of, that should give you a general idea
In a solid, the particles have little energy, and become tightly packed together. So, instead of being able to flow freely to the lowest possible level, they never separate.
because they are solid. seriously, that is part of the definition. A gas will fill a 3-dimensional container completely, a liquid will flow to fill a container like a bowl, but a solid maintains its form or shape when not restrained.
As a matter of fact, some solids flow, only they do it in very very long time or under stress. First we would need to define solid. A true solid has certain level of organization at molecular level, or crystallinity. Many solids have very ordered and stable organization, such as a diamond or quartz crystal. They most surely will never flow, but break appart under stress. I haven't mentioned polymers, that's quite a different story. Now, take a metal, such as copper or aluminum sheets. It is a true solid, because it forms crystals, however their intermolecular interactions are of different nature (See the crystallinity and the malleability articles at pedia). Normally it maintains its shape, but a sheet can be forced between a pair of stamp molds. It has been recognized that in such case, the malleable metal flows to aquire the mold figure due to the stress applied. The same with forging, drawing, extrusion, and other manufacturing processes. Also, a metal can be deformed very slowly when under a stress for a very long period. this is called creep Moreover, it has been observed that stained glasses from very old churches are slightly thicker at the base than in the top, because the glass has flowed due to gravity for a thousand year. By the way, glass is not considered a true solid by the material scientist, but who cares, it IS a solid for ordinary mortals. So there you have it, some solids do flow.
check your tshirts Hanes shirts are 100% cotton
go to a clothes shopping website, most of them will tell you what materials the clothes are made of, that should give you a general idea
check your tshirts Hanes shirts are 100% cotton
In a solid, the particles have little energy, and become tightly packed together. So, instead of being able to flow freely to the lowest possible level, they never separate.
As a matter of fact, some solids flow, only they do it in very very long time or under stress. First we would need to define solid. A true solid has certain level of organization at molecular level, or crystallinity. Many solids have very ordered and stable organization, such as a diamond or quartz crystal. They most surely will never flow, but break appart under stress. I haven't mentioned polymers, that's quite a different story. Now, take a metal, such as copper or aluminum sheets. It is a true solid, because it forms crystals, however their intermolecular interactions are of different nature (See the crystallinity and the malleability articles at pedia). Normally it maintains its shape, but a sheet can be forced between a pair of stamp molds. It has been recognized that in such case, the malleable metal flows to aquire the mold figure due to the stress applied. The same with forging, drawing, extrusion, and other manufacturing processes. Also, a metal can be deformed very slowly when under a stress for a very long period. this is called creep Moreover, it has been observed that stained glasses from very old churches are slightly thicker at the base than in the top, because the glass has flowed due to gravity for a thousand year. By the way, glass is not considered a true solid by the material scientist, but who cares, it IS a solid for ordinary mortals. So there you have it, some solids do flow.
because they are solid. seriously, that is part of the definition. A gas will fill a 3-dimensional container completely, a liquid will flow to fill a container like a bowl, but a solid maintains its form or shape when not restrained.
