Physical Science
Physical Properties of Matter
Introduction
All matter has physical properties. Physical properties of matter are characteristics that
can be observed or measured. Physical properties of matter can change, but when these
properties change the matter itself does not change. For example, water changes into ice
when it gets cold enough. Even though the appearance of the ice is different than the
appearance of the water, both ice and water are still made up of the same matter. The
water changed into ice, but the matter did not change. Another example would be
hammering a penny until it was very flat. The penny looks different, but it is still made up
of the same type of matter.
There are many examples of physical properties. These include the color of the matter, the
texture of the matter, the odor of the matter, whether the matter is a good conductor or
insulator, whether the matter is magnetic, whether the matter floats in water, the boiling
point of matter, and the melting point of matter. The boiling point of water is 100 degrees
Celsius. The melting point of water is 0 degrees Celsius.
Questions:
1) What are physical properties?
2) Give an example of matter changing physical properties.
3) List four examples of physical properties of matter.
4) Below are several examples of matter changing. Circle the examples of matter
undergoing a physical change.
Ice melting
Bending a nail
Paper burning
Carving wood
Breaking a rock
Physical Science
Physical Properties of Matter
Vocabulary
physical property: a characteristic of matter that can be observed or
measured and can be changed without changing the matter itself
property: a characteristic used to describe matter
texture: how a substance feels or looks
odor: how a substance smells
conductor: a substance that allows electricity to easily travel through it
insulator: a substance that does not let electricity pass through it easily
magnetic: a description of substances attracted to magnetic force
boiling point: the temperature at which a substance changes from a
liquid to a gas
melting point: the temperature at which a substance changes from a
solid to a liquid
Activity: In the 3 circles below, draw a representation of each of the states
of matter using water. Label each representation. Describe the physical
changes that water undergoes when changing from one state to another.
Physical Science
Physical Properties of Matter
Name___________
Concept Practice
Directions: Fill in the blank with the appropriate term or terms.
1) Properties of matter such as color and texture are known
as _______________ _______________.
2) When the physical properties of matter change, the matter itself does not
_______________ .
3) Three examples of physical properties include _______________,
_______________, and _______________.
4) A substance that allows electricity to easily travel through it is a good
_______________.
5) A substance that does not allow electricity to pass through it easily is an
______________.
6) Substances attracted to a _______________ are magnetic.
7) The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which the
substance changes from a _______________ to a _______________.
8) The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which the
substance changes from a _______________ to a _______________.
9) The boiling point of water is ____________________.
10) The melting point of water is ___________________.