👉 A fluid, in the context of physics and chemistry, is a substance that can flow or change shape without breaking into distinct particles. This characteristic arises from the weak intermolecular forces between its constituent particles, allowing them to slide past one another rather than maintaining a fixed position. Liquids exhibit properties like viscosity (resistance to flow) and surface tension, which are direct results of these fluid-like behaviors. Unlike gases, which have much weaker intermolecular forces and can expand to fill any container, fluids maintain a definite volume but take the shape of their container. Examples include water, oil, and air, each demonstrating unique fluid properties based on their molecular structure and intermolecular interactions.
