In a solid there are covalent bonds between atoms. These bonds are created by sharing electrons and are very strong. This prevents the atoms from moving. They are capable of only vibrating in that position.
In a liquid, the bonds are only created by ends of molecules being partially charged. These may be polar bonds when one end has a permanent charge due to an atom having a greater attraction for electrons. The uneven charge distribution creates bonds when ends of molecules with different charges attract each other.
If the molecule is symmetric then dispersion forces create temporary bonds due to a temporary charge distribution as electrons move around. These polar and dispersion forces are not as strong so the bonds break all the time and the molecules may roll around each other.
In gases there aren't any bonds so the molecules just fly and bounce around.
When particles have very less attraction for each other, they tend to move more freely and also that's why the liquids also tend to flow.
A liquids resistance to flow is known as the liquids viscosity. Honey has a high viscosity. Water has a lower viscosity. The slower liquid flows, the higher viscosity is. The viscosity results from the strength of the attraction between the particles of the liquid. For many liquids, viscosity increases as the liquid becomes colder.
In the liquid, the particles are not compact but in a solid, the particles are compact.
Flow. Gases and liquids can both modify their shapes.
Gases and fluids are all considered fluids which mean they are able to flow. This is because their particles are able to slide into each other. Solids, though some may seem to flow ( salt, sand ) are not able to because their particles are extreamly close together there for they are not able to slide into each other.
Fluids are substances that flow. Liquids flow, gases flow, and ionized gases (plasmas) flow. Thus, they are all fluids.
Flow
Solids do not flow because particles in a solid are so close together and their forces of attraction are so strong that they cannot flow past one another. If you have a 8th grade Science & Technology Textbook, you can look at page 89 in the second paragraph (Explaining Flow Using Particle Theory) and 2nd sentence, which is your answer that you are looking for (Using the particle theory explain why solids do not flow?)
Any substance that can Flow is called a 'Fluid'. Water is a Fluid Liquid....It can Flow. Steam is a Fluid Gas...It can Flow. Therefore, Liquids and Gases are Fluids. (The Molecules of Solids are closely bonded and cannot move around and over each other. They vibrate in the same position...Solids therefore are not Fluids, they cannot flow). (Norrie wrote this not me so give credit to Norrie)
Either by conduction or convection?
Because the solid can be made to flow, or move so it is called as fluids
yes indeed solids can flow as well. all states of matter are fluids.
Fluids are neither solids nor liquids. Fluids are a form between solids and liquids. Fluids donot exhibit a fixed shape like solids do and also are not free flowing as liquids are. Fluids, while maintaining their total volume can flow freely upto a certain extent. Though not very accurate, a fluid behaves some what like ketchup :)
solids
because, unlike solids, they can't sustain shearing stress
because the process requires the formation of currents which is only possible in fluids (i.e solids and liquids). It is not possible for currents to develop in solids for the simple reason that the molecules in a solid are not free to move around and they are contained in their fixed positions.
Solids do not flow because there is very little intermolecular space between them and hence they hold each other very tightly so they cannot flow
Solids have a strict shape and volume. Solids do not flow and they are usually cannot be easily compressed.
Flow. Gases and liquids can both modify their shapes.
No. There are four types of matter, solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas. If something is a liquid, it cannot be a gas.