Matter
Kinetic Theory
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Plasma
Matter
Matter
• Anything that has mass and occupies
space
• The materials or “stuff” that all objects and
substances in the universe are made of
• 4 States of Matter = Solid, liquid, gas, and
plasma
Matter
• Because all matter takes up space (has
volume) and contains a certain amount of
material (has mass), all matter can be
detected and measured
Examples of Matter
• Rocks, water, trees, bicycles, lighting,
animals, stars, smoke, are all easily seen
and observed
• Dust mites that live in your furniture and
rugs you may need a microscope to view
• Air maybe invisible but we can feel it when
the wind blows and see it bend the
branches of trees (oxygen, nitrogen,
hydrogen, CO2)
What is not matter?
• Light
• Sound
• Gravity
• Friction
Part (a)
Matter is made up of ATOMS! Atoms are little bits
too small for us to see. They are so tiny you
can’t break them down further.
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Matter
• Atoms are the building blocks of matter
• The elements in our periodic table make
up all matter
Kinetic Theory
Kinetic Theory
All matter consists of tiny
particles that are in constant
motion.
Kinetic Theory
1. All matter is composed of small particles
(atoms, molecules, or ions). There is an
attractive force between them.
2. They are in constant, random motion.
The particles may collide with one another
or the sides of their container.
3. As the temperature increases the
speed of the particles increases. As the
temperature decreases the speed of the
particles decreases.
Solid
SOLIDS
•State of matter that
has a definite shape and
a definite volume.
•Particles of solids are
tightly packed, vibrating
about a fixed position.
•Particles are strongly
attracted to each other
Part (b)
SOLID
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Examples of Solids
Liquid
LIQUID
 A state of matter that has
a definite volume but
takes the shape of its
container
 Liquids do not have a
definite shape
 Particles of liquids are
tightly packed, but are far
enough apart to slide over
one another, allowing it to
flow
Liquid
Examples of Liquid
Gas
GAS
 A state of matter that has no
definite shape and no definite
volume; expands to fill the
shape of its container
 Particles of gases are very far
apart and move freely.
 Attractive forces are very weak
• Contain mostly empty space –
because the particles are so far
apart
• Particles spread throughout a
given volume until distributed
equally – diffusion
Gas vs. Vapor
• Gas – a substance
that is naturally in
the gaseous state at
room temperature
• EXAMPLE: Helium
• Vapor – the gaseous
state of a substance
that is a solid or
liquid at room
temperature
• EXAMPLE: Steam
Examples of Gas
Plasma
PLASMA
 A state of matter that
does not have a
definite shape or
volume and whose
particles have broken
apart
 Consists of + and –
charged particles
(electrons are knocked
off due to collisions)
 A plasma is a very good
conductor of electricity
and is affected by
magnetic fields.
• Plasma is the
most common
state of matter in
the universe
Some places where plasmas are found…
1. Flames
2. Lightning
3. Aurora (Northern Lights)
Neon Sign
The Sun is an example of a star in its
plasma state
STATES OF MATTER
SOLID
LIQUID
GAS
PLASMA
Tightly packed, in
a regular pattern
Vibrate, but do not
move from place
to place, definite
shape and volume
Close together
with no regular
arrangement.
Move about, flow
and slide past
each other.
Definite volume,
no definite shape
takes shape of its
container.
Well separated
with no regular
arrangement.
Move freely at
high speeds. No
definite shape or
volume. Easily
compressible.
Has no definite
volume or shape
and is composed
of electrical
charged particles
PLC-Unit 1B
STATES OF MATTER
SOLID
Tightly packed, in
a regular pattern
Vibrate, but do not
move from place
to place
LIQUID
Close together
with no regular
arrangement.
Vibrate, move
about, and slide
past each other
GAS
Well separated
with no regular
arrangement.
Vibrate and move
freely at high
speeds
PLASMA
Has no definite
volume or shape
and is composed
of electrical
charged particles
Phase Change
A transition of matter from one
state to another.
Some phase changes are more common and
easier for us to visualize.
For example, you have probably witnessed
freezing, melting, and vaporization just
by making ice, melting ice, and boiling water.
Condensation often occurs on the
outside of cold beverage containers.
This is when the humid air changes
directly to a liquid on the surface of the
container.
Sublimation
Dry ice is actually solid carbon dioxide.
When it sits in the open or is placed in
water it rapidly changes directly from
solid to gas creating a foggy cloud.
Deposition
Frozen patterns of ice on your car
windshield is an example. Deposition
involves a gas changing to a solid. This
occurs during winter months when the
humid air directly freezes into solid ice.
Ionization and recombination do
not occur often around us. These
processes involve high energy matter
found in lightning and stars changing
from one form to another.
Characteristics
1. Definite shape and
volume
Characteristics
Examples
Examples
2. Particles tightly
packed
1. rock
1. water
3. Particles vibrate
2. book
2. soda
4. Particles strongly
attracted to each other
3. ice
3. milk
Solid
1. Definite volume
2. No definite shape,
takes shape of
container
3. Particles close
together but move or
flow, by sliding over
each other
4. Attractive forces
between particles are
weaker
Liquid
States of Matter
Characteristics
1. No definite shape or
volume
2. Consists of + and –
charged particles
3. Occurs at high
temperatures, particles
moving very fast
4. Most common state
of matter in the
universe
Plasma
Examples
Characteristics
Gas
Examples
1. No definite shape or
volume
1. Lighting
1. Oxygen
2. Particles are so far
apart they are no
longer touching
2. stars
2. Nitrogen
3. Diffusion
3. CO2
4. Attractive forces
between particles is
very weak
3. Neon signs
5. Easily compressable
Shape
Volume
Compressibility
Definite
Definite
Not Easily
No Definite
Definite
Not Easily
No Definite
No Definite
Easily
No Definite
No Definite
Easily
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Plasma
Solid
Arrangement
of particles
Distance
between
particles
Motion of
particles
Force
between
particles
Regular or orderly
arrangement
Tightly packed
Vibrate around
fixed point
Strong attraction
Slow
movement,
flows, slide over
one another
Liquid
No regular
arrangement
Close together
Moderate
attraction
Gas
No regular
arrangement
Far apart
Fast movement
Very weak
attraction
Plasma
No regular
arrangement
Far apart,
electrons have
been knocked off
Very fast
movement
Very weak
attraction