STATE OF MATTER
States of Matter
Understanding the different forms of matter and their properties.
Main States of Matter
Solid
Defined shape and volume. Particles are closely packed and vibrate in place.
Liquid
Defined volume but no fixed shape. Particles are less packed and flow past each other.
Gas
No fixed shape or volume. Particles are spread out and move freely.
Plasma
Ionized gas with high energy. Particles are electrically charged.
Changing States of Matter
Energy can change matter from one state to another. Heat can turn a solid into a liquid or gas. Very high heat can turn a gas into plasma.
On Earth, most things are solid, liquid, or gas. We don't see plasma much. It's too hot here for atoms to break apart into plasma.
Some solids turn into a cloudy liquid when heated. This is called a liquid crystal. It's part liquid, part solid. Heat it more, and it becomes a clear liquid.
There are other rare states too. One is called Bose-Einstein condensate. It happens when atoms get very, very cold.
Properties of Matter States
Gases
- Not dense
- Easy to squeeze
- Can flow
Liquids
- Dense
- Can be squeezed a bit
- Can flow
Solids
- Dense
- Hard to squeeze
- Can't flow