Fases

Fases is the plural form of fase in Spanish and Portuguese, meaning the distinct stages of a process or cycle. In general use, fases describes a sequence in which the conditions, activities, or appearances change from one part to the next, often with criteria defining the transition from one phase to another.

In astronomy, the term refers to the phases of the Moon. As the Moon orbits Earth, its illuminated portion changes, producing observable shapes such as the new moon, crescent, first quarter, gibbous, full moon, and the corresponding waning phases. The complete cycle takes about 29.5 days and is used in calendars and cultural traditions.

In physics and chemistry, phases describe states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Substances can change phase through heating, cooling, or pressure changes, forming phase diagrams that map conditions under which each state is stable and signaling transitions such as melting, boiling, sublimation, or condensation.

Outside the sciences, fases are used to outline progress in projects and life events. Common contexts include project life cycles (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, closing) and biological rhythms such as the menstrual cycle phases, which reflect hormonal changes over roughly a month. The term emphasizes that complex phenomena unfold in discrete, recognizable parts rather than as a single continuous state.