Anything that has mass and takes up space (has volume), existing in different states such as solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
Everything you can touch, see, or weigh is matter. Air is matter too — you just can't see it.
Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.
Example 1
easy
Steam, liquid water, and ice are all the same substance. Are all three matter?Ice, liquid water, and steam: all three are the same substance in different states
Example 2
easy
What two things does matter always have?
Example 3
medium
If you compress a gas into half its volume in a rigid cylinder, does its mass change? Is it still matter?
Example 4
medium
What unit is commonly used to measure mass in science?
Example 5
medium
Two identical jars: one holds 1 L of helium, the other 1 L of air. Both are matter, but how do their masses compare and why?
Example 6
easy
Define matter and give three examples of things that are matter and three that are not.
Example 7
medium
A candle burns and seems to 'disappear.' Did the matter vanish? Explain using conservation of mass.
Example 8
medium
Ice melts into water. Did the matter disappear?Ice melts into water — does the matter disappear?
Example 9
medium
Plasma in a neon sign: is it matter? Justify.
Example 10
challenge
Explain why the statement 'matter can be created or destroyed in ordinary chemical reactions' is false, and state the correct principle.
Example 11
easy
Is air matter? Answer yes or no and give the two-part reason.
Example 12
hard
Atoms, molecules, and ions are all examples of what?
Example 13
challenge
A 1.0 L sealed bottle of air is heated so the gas wants to expand but cannot. State whether each changes: (a) mass of gas, (b) number of particles, (c) volume. Then explain whether it is still matter.
Example 14
hard
A student claims that heat and light are forms of matter because they can be detected and measured. Evaluate this claim using the definition of matter.
Example 15
hard
Is the vacuum of outer space considered matter?
Example 16
hard
Why are heat and light not considered matter, even though they can transfer energy?
Example 17
medium
A student claims 'a vacuum is matter because it occupies space.' What is wrong with this claim?
Example 18
medium
Which has more matter: a feather or a brick of equal volume?
Example 19
hard
Two identical jars: one has air, the other is a vacuum. Which weighs more, and by how much (qualitatively)?
Example 20
easy
Which of these is matter: a thought, a sandwich, or a song?