Say whether each of these is matter or not, and give a reason…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Say whether each of these is matter or not, and give a reason.
- A cloud
- A rainbow
- The steam from a kettle
- The smell of a flower
- The heat from a fire
- A shadow
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Air, steam, smoke and a smell are matter. Light, sound, heat and a shadow are not: they have no mass and fill no space.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The test. Matter has mass and takes up space.
Step 2. Matter. (a) A cloud is billions of tiny drops of water: matter. (c) Steam is water as a gas: matter. (d) A smell is particles of a substance spreading in the air: matter.
Step 3. Not matter. (b) A rainbow is sunlight split into colours: light has no mass. (e) Heat is energy moving from hot to cold, not a substance. (f) A shadow is only a place where light does not reach.
Answer: (a), (c) and (d) are matter. (b), (e) and (f) are not.
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