Matter

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Matter is the substance or material of which all things are made. Matter has mass. Most matter has volume. All things we can touch, taste or smell are matter.

Contents 1 Examples of Matter 2 Not Matter 3 What is Matter Made of? 4 Forms of Matter 5 Properties of Matter 6 Changing states of matter 6.1 Example of State Change 6.2 Names of Matter State Changes 7 Notes

[edit] Examples of Matter

• metal is matter
• air is matter
• water is matter
• paper is matter
• the earth is made of matter
• the sun is made of matter
• neutrinos are matter

[edit] Not Matter

• heat is not matter
• light is not matter
• sound is not matter
• numbers are not matter
• space is not matter^[1]

[edit] What is Matter Made of?

Matter is made of small particles. Most common matter is made of particles called atoms. Atoms are made of even smaller particles called subatomic particles.

The matter in the sun and the matter high in the air in a place called the ionosphere is made of ions. Ions are pieces of atoms, or atoms with an extra piece.

[edit] Forms of Matter

Matter exists in several different forms:

• solid
  • Solids keep their shape.
  • Solid surfaces do not move a lot when pushed.
  • Rocks, wood and ice are solids.
• liquid
  • Liquids take the shape of their vessels.
  • Liquids move easily when pushed.
  • Water, lava and things to drink are liquids.
• gas
  • Gases also take the shape of their vessels.
  • Gases move very easily when pushed.
  • The air close to the earth is made of gases.
  • Steam is a gas.

These forms of matter are called states of matter. The best-known states of matter are the solid, liquid and gas states.

Liquids and gasses are both special types of fluids. The difference between liquids and gases is that liquids can have an edge. The edge of a liquid is called a surface.

Water is an unusual substance. Water can be found as liquid, solid and gas naturally on the earth. This is not true of any other natural material.

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[edit] Properties of Matter

Matter has a property called mass. Light does not have mass. Sound does not have mass.

Matter attracts other matter with a force called gravity. Light is not matter, but its movement is changed by gravity as though it was matter. Usually light acts as a wave, but in special cases light acts as a particle.

In the twentieth century, people found that matter can be changed into energy and energy can be changed into matter. Some matter is changed into energy in an atomic bomb.

[edit] Changing states of matter

The state of matter can be changed from one state to another. There are several ways to change the state of matter. For example, changing the temperature of matter can change its state. Changing the volume of matter can change its state.

[edit] Example of State Change

• When water is made cold enough, the water will turn to ice.
• If water is put in a pot over a fire, the water will heat up. Some of the water will turn to steam.

[edit] Names of Matter State Changes

• The change from solid to liquid is called melting.
• The change from liquid to solid is called freezing.
• The change from gas to liquid is called condensation.
• The change from liquid to gas is called evaporation.
• The change from solid to gas is called sublimation.

[edit] Notes

1. ↑ This is not so simple as it looks. Empty space has small particles of matter in it but only for very short times.

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