States of Matter
All matter is made up of tiny particles that are too
small to see.
Matter comes in 4 different forms called states.
State – a form of matter
The 4 states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and
plasma.
States of Matter - Solids
Solids have a definite shape and volume.
Their particles are arranged in a pattern. They don’t
move around, but they vibrate in place.
States of Matter - Liquids
Liquids have a definite volume, but they take the
shape of whatever container they are in.
Their particles move around and flow over each
other.
States of Matter - Gases
Gases do not have a definite shape or volume.
Their particles move fast and free, bumping into
each other until they are spread out in all directions.
States of Matter - Plasma Plasma is the most common state of matter in the
universe comprising more than 99% of our visible
universe and most of that not visible.
Plasma occurs naturally and makes up the “stuff” of
our sun, the core of stars and occurs in quasars, x-ray
beam emitting pulsars, and supernovas.
On earth, plasma is naturally occurring in flames,
lightning and the auroras.
Plasma is an extremely high energy state of matter
with no definite shape or volume
States of Matter – Comparison Chart
Matter comes in four states. Work with a partner.
Properties (shape
and volume) Examples
Solids
Liquids
Gases
Plasmas
Changes of State
Matter changes states when THERMAL
ENERGY is ABSORBED or RELEASED.
HEAT makes particles in matter speed up which
causes them to change states.
Cold particles move slower.
This is a graph of the temperature of water
that starts as ice and ends up as steam.
Temperature
Thermal Energy
Little molecule
movement
solid liquid gas
Increase in thermal energy
Increase in thermal energy
Decrease in thermal energy
Decrease in thermal energy
melting evaporation
condensation freezing
Some molecule
movement Lots of
molecule movement
Particle Movement and Phase Changes
Vocabulary Connections
Melts
Boiling Point Melting Point
Boils
Freezing Point
Condenses Freezes
Condensation Point
Solid Liquid Gas
Vocabulary Connections Melting – when a solid is turning into a liquid.
Melting point – when a solid has turned into a liquid.
Boiling – when a liquid is turning into a gas.
Boiling point – when a liquid has turned into a gas.
Vocabulary Connections Condensing – when a gas is turning into a liquid.
Condensation point – when a gas has turned into a liquid.
Freezing – when a liquid is turning into a solid.
Freezing point – when a liquid has turned into a solid.
Thermal Expansion The particles that make up matter move more when heat
is added.
When they move more, they spread out.
When they spread out, the matter they are part of
expands.
Thermal Expansion – the expansion of matter when it is
heated