Matter Article

Armando Dicarlo Arceo Gomez
Name: ______________________________
Why Does Matter Matter?

by Kelly Hashway
What do trees, air, and water have in common? They all have matter. That means they take up
space. You might be wondering why these things look so different if they all have matter. Everything
found on Earth can be grouped into one of three states of matter: solid, liquid, or gas. In order to figure
out which state of matter an object fits in, we have to examine its properties. The properties we look at
are shape, mass, and volume. Mass is the amount of matter an object has, and volume is the amount of
space the matter takes up.
Solids are easy to recognize. They have definite shape, mass, and
volume. Trees are solids. They are made up of tiny particles called atoms.
These atoms are packed closely together, and they hold the solid in a
definite shape that does not change. If you look around your house, you
will see lots of solids. Televisions, beds, tables, chairs, and even the food
you eat.
Liquids do not have definite shape, but they do have definite mass
and volume. Liquids are similar to solids because their atoms are close
together, but what makes a liquid different is that those atoms can move
around. Liquids can change shape by flowing. If you’ve ever spilled a glass
of milk, then you know it spreads out across the floor. It does this because
the milk is taking the shape of the floor. Since liquids do not have a definite
shape of their own, they will take the shape of their containers. This is why
the same amount of milk can look different in a tall glass, a wide mug, or
spread out on your kitchen floor.
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Gases do not have definite shape or volume. Like liquids, gasses
will take the shape of their containers. If a gas is not in a container, it will
spread out indefinitely. This is because the atoms in a gas are spaced
farther apart than in a solid or a liquid. And being spread out like this
allows them to move around freely. Think about the air you breathe
everyday. That air is spread across the empty space around the earth.
You’ve probably also noticed that you usually cannot see the air. This is
another property of gases. Even though we cannot see them, you
come in contact with them everyday. There’s air in the tires of your
family car and your bicycle. There are many different types of gas in the
earth's atmosphere, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water
vapor, and helium.
When trying to remember the three states of matter, think
about water. If it freezes into a solid, it becomes ice. Its atoms are
packed together keeping its shape. Of course, we know water can

You can see three different
also be a liquid. It flows in rivers or it can be poured from a glass. states of matter in this
When water evaporates it becomes water vapor, a type of gas in picture. The pot is made of
solid matter. The water
the air. Try a little experiment of your own by placing an ice cube in
inside the pot is liquid.
a covered glass or container. You will be able to observe the ice first When the liquid is heated it
in its solid form and then watch as it melts into a liquid to become becomes water vapor,
which is a gas.
water. Eventually the water will turn to water vapor and your glass or
container will be filled with this gas. Matter is everywhere! Can

you find a solid, a liquid,
and a gas around you right
now?

Armando Dicarlo Arceo Gomez
Name: ______________________________
Why Does Matter Matter?

by Kelly Hashway
solids volume container matter ice juice
gases mass atoms chair oxygen melting
liquids shape space milk helium
Choose a word from the box to complete each sentence.
1. Volume
The three basic properties of matter are ______________________________,
Mass
______________________________, Shape
and _____________________________.
2. Atoms
All matter is made up of tiny particles called _____________________________.
3. Space
Volume is the amount of _____________________________ that matter takes up.
4. Matter
Mass is the amount of _____________________________ an object has.
5. Container
Liquids take the shape of their _____________________________.
6. Gases do not have a definite shape or volume.

_____________________________
7. Liquids do not have a definite shape, but they do have a definite volume.
___________________________
8.
Solids
_____________________________ have a definite shape and volume.
9. Chair. and ___________________________

A ___________________________ Ice are examples of solids.
10. Milk.
___________________________ Juice
and ___________________________ are examples of liquids.
11. Oxygen. and ___________________________

___________________________ Helium are examples of gas.
12. Melting when it is changing into a liquid.
Solid ice is ___________________________

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Armando Dicarlo Arceo Gomez

Why Does Matter Matter?

space the matter takes up.

spread out on your kitchen floor.

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

another property of gases. Even though we cannot see them, you

earth's atmosphere, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water

vapor, and helium.

When trying to remember the three states of matter, think

packed together keeping its shape. Of course, we know water can

container will be filled with this gas. Matter is everywhere! Can

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

Why Does Matter Matter?

solids volume container matter ice juice

gases mass atoms chair oxygen melting

liquids shape space milk helium

Choose a word from the box to complete each sentence.

6. Gases do not have a definite shape or volume.

9. Chair. and ___________________________

11. Oxygen. and ___________________________

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

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