The Story of The Universe
Properties of Solids
In the solid states, God has made the
particles cling so tightly together that they are
impossible to separate. They form a body which
will not alter its shape unless great force is applied
to it. If a piece is broken off, if ,for instance you start
particles cling so tightly together that they are
impossible to separate. They form a body which
will not alter its shape unless great force is applied
to it. If a piece is broken off, if ,for instance you start
chipping a flint, the particles still cling together and
the flint and the chips remain solid pieces of stone.
Properties of Liquids
In the matter of liquids,
God said to the particles:
"You shall hold together while you are inside
a vessel and take shape of the vessel you
are in. Outside, you shall flow and spread,
fitting every hollow and crevice in your path.
You will not cling so closely to each other
as the particles of a solid, but will be able
to move and roll over each other. You will
push downwards and sideways, but not
upwards. And since you do not cling so
tightly to each other, you take up more
room than the particles of a solid."
Properties of Gases
And to the Gases God said:
"You particles shall not cling together at all,
they can move freely in all directions."
This was the simple plan God devised
for the particles, and so it is that they form
themselves into solids, liquids and gases.
But He added certain conditions.
Unless, He said, the temperature is very, very, hot,
hotter than the heat of the sun, or very, very cold,
like the cold of outer space, you shall not be gases,
or liquids , or solids at all the same time. But at a
certain degree of heat, some of you shall be solid,
some liquid and some gaseous. If the heat increases,
solids will become liquid, and the liquids will turn
into gases which will mix with the other gases.
Not all the solids, however, you will become
liquid at the same degree of heat.
God gave another law:
All of you shall have weight, but you
will not all have the same weight.
And those who are heavier will
attract those that are light.
Pinegreenwoods Montessori
The Great Lessons '
