Introduction to Matter

Phases of Matter• Solid– Hotdog, car, person, spaceship

• Liquid– Water, tears, soda, mercury

• Gas– Oxygen, vapor, certain smells

• Plasma– Lightning, stars

SOLID

• Definite shape• Definite volume• Cannot be compressed

LIQUID

• Definite volume• Cannot be compressed

• Liquids take the shape of their container, therefore they have no definite shape.

GAS

• No definite shape– Takes the shape of its container

• No definite volume– Spreads out evenly into the space it occupies

• Can be easily compressed

Atomic Molecules

• Solids: – atomic molecules move extremely slowly; they

vibrate only.

• Liquids: – atomic molecules move faster than in a solid, but

not as fast as in a gas.

• Gases: – atomic molecules move very quickly, colliding with

one another and ricocheting off in various directions.

Energy Requirements

• It takes increased energy to change from a solid to a liquid or a liquid to a gas.

• When energy decreases, gases change to liquids, and liquids change to solids.

Water

• Solid:– Ice

• Liquid:– Water

• Gas– Steam

Plasma – the 4th Phase of Matter

• Plasmas are similar to gases, but the atoms, the building blocks of matter, are different.

• Plasma molecules move extremely fast, much faster than gas molecules.

Examples of Plasma

• Natural examples:– Northern Lights – Lightning

• Man-made examples:– florescent lights – neon signs.

Can you answer these questions?1. What are the 4 phases of matter?2. Can you give at least one example for

each phase?3. How do phases of matter change from

one phase to another?4. Can you describe the molecular

movement of each phase of matter?5. What is the least common phase found

on Earth?6. Which phase has a definite volume, but

no definite shape, what phase is it?7. Which phase can be easily compressed?