Homework Help: Science: Physics: Matter

Matter is anything that has volume and weight. Volume is the amount of space that the matter takes up, and weight is the amount of force that gravity pulls on it. It may be in the form of solid, liquid, or gas, which are called the three states of matter. Solids stay in the form that they are in, liquids turn into the shape of the container they are put in, and gas fills whatever container it is in.

As the temperature surrounding the matter changes, the volume of matter changes as well. Usually, when the temperature around the matter gets warmer, the matter's volume will become larger. When the temperature around the matter gets cooler, the matter's volume usually becomes smaller.

Matter can be the result of a substance, mixture, solution, element, or compound. A substance is just one thing with no other things mixed within it. A mixture is two or more things that have been mixed to create something different than the single elements. A solution is like a mixture, except it is liquid. An element is a substance that can't be broken down into smaller parts through ordinary chemical means. Last, a compound is a mixture of two or more elements that form another new substance which is chemically different than any of the single elements.

A matter's mass describes the amount of matter within the matter itself. For example, you could have two different masses, such as an iron ball and a soccer ball, that are exactly the same size. But, because the iron ball has more matter inside it, it has more mass. It also has more weight.

A matter's density is the mass divided by the volume. This explains why some objects float and why some sink. If the object is denser than its surroundings, then it will sink. If it is less dense than the surroundings, it will float! Gases are always less dense than solids and liquids.

Homework Help: Science: Physics

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