Question

It is stated that solids are incompressible .But a sponge can be compressed.Is sponge a solid or not?

Answer 1

A sponge has minute holes,in which air is trapped, when we press it,the air is expelled out and we are able to compress it.sponge is a porous solid.but in other words the property of compressibility means an object is commpresed and it remains in that compressed shape until we apply force to get it back to its normal position and when we compress sponge it comes back to its original shape automatically in a minute or two.

Answer 2

Solids are incompressible, the fact is true. But some solids like sponges are highly porous, that is, contain a high amount of air pockets inside them. Hence solids like sponges are almost hollow and are compressible since they don’t have the required resistant force to resist compression.