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Why is it when you put a liquid like water, juice, or milk in a glass, it takes the shape of the glass and fills all the space? If you dump it, it spreads all over the place? If you put a rock in the cup it does not change shape, and if you dump it, it stays the same shape. How is it that there is always air for us to breathe, ... even if you fan it away, it is back as soon as you take a breath. Solids A solid's particles are locked in place, and cannot move freely. They are able to vibrate, and if they vibrate fast enough they will turn into a liquid. A solid's particles can't be compressed.  Liquids Liquid particles are not locked in place; they can slide past each other, but cannot leave the liquid. They take the shape of the object they are in or on. Liquid particles can't be compressed, and because of this and the fact that liquids take the shape of the object they are in, they are used for hydraulics, because a liquid can transmit a force and will flow through hoses. 
Gases Gas particles are free to go wherever they want, and unlike a liquid and solid, gas particles can be compressed. This is very important because we can use compressed air for work, and it makes a lot of air able to fit into a small volume. We use compressed air for tires, air tools, and many other things. Gas particles like liquids take the shape of the volume they are in. 
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