Learn more about the states of matter.

Everything you see or touch or smell or hear or taste is matter. Matter is all around us. Matter means anything that takes up "space" (called "volume") and has "mass" (sort of like "weight"). So any object is matter! Matter can undergo physical changes and chemical changes too.

States of matter means how the matter looks. Matter can be in many states, but we will think about solid, liquid, and gas for now.

Solids are "frozen" in place. This means that the shape and space (volume) of the matter does not change. An example of a solid is a table.

Liquids move around inside the space it is given. This means that the space, or volume, of matter stays the same. But the shape of the matter changes. An example of a liquid is the juice INSIDE a glass.

Gases move around inside the space, or volume, that it is given. If the space is big then the gas will expand to fit the space. If the space is small then the gas will contract to fit the space. An example of a gas is the air you blow inside a balloon.

Research Scavenger Hunt: Can you learn about the other states of matter? Where did you find the evidence at?

Watch the video New York City By Air to observe different types of matter as you fly up into the atmosphere.