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Yes, you can compress any form of matter, it's just not as easy to compress certain forms.

The ability for something to be compressed is called "Bulk Elastic Properties". (For more information, visit http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/permot3.html) Water, for example, requires a great deal of pressure to accomplish very little compression, most of the time unnoticeable. For that reason, liquids and solids are sometimes referred to as being incompressible. However in nature, water at the bottom of the ocean is compressed by the weight of the water above it and is more dense than the water at the surface.

In a solid you cant compress anything because the forces of attraction are so powerful that there is no space left to compress,

In a liquid the forces of attraction are quite strong so there is limited amount of space to be compressed.

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14y ago
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12y ago

The answer is yes, You can compress water, or almost any material. However, it requires a great deal of pressure to accomplish a little compression. For that reason, liquids and solids are sometimes referred to as being incompressible.

To understand what happens, remember that all matter is composed of a collection of atoms. Even though matter seems to be very solid, in actuality, the atoms are relative far apart, and matter is mostly empty space. However, due to the forces between the molecules, they strongly resist being pressed closer together, but they can be. You probably have experienced compressing something as hard as steel. Have you ever bounced a steel ball bearing off a sidewalk? When you do that, the 'bounce' is due to compressing the steel ball, just a tiny little spot that comes into contact with the sidewalk. It compresses and then springs back, causing the bounce.

The water at the bottom of the ocean is compressed by the weight of the water above it all the way to the surface, and is more dense than the water at the surface.

A consequence of compressing a fluid is that the viscosity, that is the resistance of the fluid to flow, also increases as the density increases. This is because the atoms are forced closer together, and thus cannot slip by each other as easily as they can when the fluid is at atmospheric pressure.

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4mo ago

In general, liquids are considered to be incompressible because their molecules are already tightly packed. However, certain liquids like water can be compressed slightly under extreme pressure.

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14y ago

YES you can. however you cannot compress a liquid to make it a solid

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12y ago

Yes but depending on the liquid it may require a very high pressure to cause a volume change.

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Q: Can liquids be compressed to a smaller volume?
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Related questions

Why can oxygen gas in a syringe be compressed to a smaller volume?

Oxygen gas in a syringe can be compressed to a smaller volume because gases are highly compressible compared to liquids and solids. When the volume of the syringe is reduced, the gas molecules are forced closer together, leading to an increase in pressure and a decrease in volume.


Can the particles in gas be compressed into smaller volume?

Yes, particles in a gas can be compressed into a smaller volume by reducing the space between them. This will increase the pressure of the gas as the particles are forced closer together.


Do gases keep the same volume?

Gases do not always keep the same volume. Gases can expand to fill the entire volume of a container or be compressed into a smaller volume depending on changes in pressure and temperature.


Can all gases be compressed?

Yes, all gases can be compressed because gases are highly compressible compared to liquids and solids. When gases are subjected to pressure, they can be compressed into a smaller volume, increasing their density.


Does liquids have definite volume and shape?

They have a definite volume, as they cannot be compressed. However they do not have a definite shape, they will take the shape of whatever they are stored in.


How many states of matter can be compressed?

All states of matter can be compressed to some degree. However, the extent to which they can be compressed varies depending on the state. Solids are the least compressible, while gases are the most compressible. Liquids fall in between solids and gases in terms of compressibility.


What instruments do you use to measure the volume of smaller liquids?

a graduated cylinder


Which of the following is not a physical property of a liquid indefinite volume indefinite shape not easily compressed definite mass?

Indefinite shape is not a physical property of a liquid. Liquids take the shape of their container, but they have a definite volume and are not easily compressed.


Why can gases be compressesd?

Gases can be compressed because their particles can be squeezed closer together into a smaller volume.


Why are solids USUALLY more dense liquids and gases?

Solids are usually more dense because solids have a smaller volume than liquids or gases, so the same amount of mass is in a smaller volume, making the density greater.


Which of the three states does not have a definite volume or definite shape?

The answer you're looking for is likely gas. However, liquids CAN be compressed so their volume is not quite as definite as it would seem.


Can gas particules cannot be compressed into smaller spaces?

Gas particles can be compressed into smaller spaces because they have a lot of empty space between them. When gas particles are compressed, their volume decreases due to the reduction in this empty space, resulting in an increase in pressure.