Solids:
* Shape change: Squashing a solid changes its shape. Think of crushing a can or flattening clay. This happens because the molecules in a solid are closely packed and have a fixed arrangement.
* Density increase: Squashing a solid makes it denser because the same amount of material is now packed into a smaller space.
* Compression: Some solids can be compressed, meaning their molecules are squeezed closer together. This is why we can compress air (which is a gas) into a tank.
Liquids:
* Volume change: Liquids are harder to squash because their molecules are already close together and can move past each other. However, applying enough pressure *can* reduce a liquid's volume slightly. Imagine squeezing a water balloon – it gets smaller.
* Incompressibility: Liquids are considered incompressible because they resist changes in volume. This is why hydraulic systems use liquids to transmit force.
In summary:
* Squashing a solid changes its shape and increases its density.
* Squashing a liquid is more difficult, but can slightly reduce its volume.
Let me know if you'd like more details on specific examples of squashing!
