Is there a difference between 摆 and 放? I know that both are supposed to mean "to place" but are they interchangeable? I know that 摆 can be used in the following manner: 

桌子上摆着三本书。


So could you also say something like

桌子上放着三本书。


and have it be a valid sentence?
Both are valid but with subtle differences. 摆 is more like "put for display", while 放 is just "put".