This Matters!

Which one of the following is not matter?

• water

• air

• sunlight

• computer

Answer explanation

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Sunlight is a form of energy, and is not matter.

Which of the following can we use to measure mass? (more than 1 answer)

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Answer explanation

Mass is the amount of matter in something. We can use the lever balance to compare the mass of different objects. We can use the electronic balance to measure mass in grams. For objects of greater mass, kilograms can also be used.

The units to measure volume are ______ and ______.

• grams (g)

• millilitres (ml)

• cubic centimetres (cm³)

• metres (m)

Answer explanation

Volume is the amount of space that something takes up. We can measure that using a syringe, measuring cup, beaker or measuring cylinders. These have markings that enable to measure volume in millilitres (ml) or cubic centimetres.

The water level rises when the crow drops stones into the pitcher of water. This shows that ________.

• the stones have volume

• the stones have definite volumes

• the water has a definite volume

• the pitcher has volume

Answer explanation

The water level rises when the stones are dropped because stones are matter, and they take up space. Hence, the stones will occupy the space previously taken up by the water, causing the water to move up in the pitcher.

The experiment does not show that the stones do not have DEFINITE volume as there is no comparison in the volume.

Which of the following have no definite shape?

• gases only

• liquids only

• solids and gases only

• liquids and gases only

Answer explanation

Liquids and gases he no definite (fixed) shape. Therefore, they take the shape of the container that they are in.

A liquid has a definite volume. This means it will always take up a _____ amount of space. (more than one answer)

• same

• decreasing

• fixed

• different

Answer explanation

Liquids have definite volume. This also means that they will take up the same amount of space.

Which of the following groups consists only of liquids?

• coin, marble

• oil, sand

• paper, water

• juice, rain

Answer explanation

Coin, paper, marble and sand are solids, not liquids. They differ from liquids in that they have definite shape.

Which property of air allows us to inflate the different balloons as shown in the picture?

• Air can be compressed.

• Air has no definite shape.

• Air has no definite volume.

• Air has mass.

Answer explanation

The balloons can be of different shapes because air has no definite shape. Air that is pumped in take the shape of the balloons.

How are solids and liquids similar? (more than one answer)

• They have definite volume.

• They have definite shape.

• They have mass.

• They take up space.

Answer explanation

Solids and liquids are similar in that they have definite volume. Only gases do not have definite volume.

Matter, including solids, liquids and gases have mass and take up space.

Arrange the fruits in decreasing mass.

• pineapple, durian, watermelon

• durian, watermelon, pineapple

• watermelon, pineapple, durian

• watermelon, durian, pineapple

Answer explanation

On a lever balance, the pan that tilts down is the one with greater mass. Hence, by comparing two fruits at a time, we can derive that the watermelon has the greatest mass, followed by the durian, then the pineapple.