4 States of Matter

Matter Matter = anything with MASS and VOLUME Matter changes to different states if enough heat is added or taken away. All matter is made of particles (atoms) that are always moving.

Solids – Definite Shape – Definite Volume – Particles (atoms) are packed tightly together in a pattern – Particles vibrate in fixed positions. They vibrate/move while staying in the same spot. – Particles have low kinetic energy

Liquids – Indefinite shape (takes the shape of the container) – Definite Volume – Particles can move around each other – Particles have medium Kinetic Energy

Gases – Indefinite shape – Indefinite volume (fills all space in a container) – Shape and volume changes depending on the container. – Particles move about freely and do not usually touch each other – Particles have high kinetic energy. This means they move around very fast!

Plasma – Plasma is very similar to a gas except that it exists only at extremely high temperatures. – Like a gas, plasma does NOT have a definite shape or volume. – 99% of the matter in the UNIVERSE is plasma, but it is rare to find plasma on Earth. – Stars, the sun, lightning, and some light bulbs are plasma.