Matter

What is matter? Everything is made up of matter. Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms, molecules, or ions. Matter is ordinarily found in three states. These states are liquid, gas, or solid.

There are two forces at work regardless of the state of matter. These two forces are energy and attraction. Energy makes the matter move. Attraction pulls and keeps the particles together.

Solids are packed together. Examples of solids are wood, plastic, stone, and iron. You can hold solids in your hand. Liquids are a state between gases and solids. Liquids flow and change shape. The best example of a liquid is water. Gases are floating around you and inside bubbles. Gases don’t have any particular shape, but they are fluid. They can also be compressed. Vapor and gas mean the same thing.

Matter can change from one state to another. For example, a liquid can change to a solid or gas. Solids can change to a liquid. Temperature influences the changes in matter from one state to another. For example, heating a liquid can turn it into a gas. Cooling or freezing a liquid can turn it into a solid.

Scientists continue to study matter, molecules, and ions to better understand our world.