Articles about "States Of Matter"
Table of Contents
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. It can exist in different forms, known as states. The most common states of matter are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
Solid
In a solid, particles are closely packed together and do not move around freely. This gives solids a definite shape and volume. An example is ice, which is a solid form of water.
Liquid
In a liquid, particles are still close together but can move around, allowing liquids to take the shape of their container while keeping a fixed volume. Water is the most common example of a liquid.
Gas
Gas particles are much farther apart and move freely, which allows gases to fill the entire space of their container. Air is a mixture of gases and is all around us.
Plasma
Plasma is a state of matter that consists of highly charged particles with very high energy. It is found in stars, including the sun, where the temperature is extremely high.
Other States
Besides these four main states, there are other special states of matter that scientists study. These include supersolids, which exhibit properties of both solids and superfluids, and quark-gluon plasma, found in extreme conditions like those in heavy-ion collisions.
Understanding the different states of matter helps scientists learn about the nature of materials and the universe around us.