Properties of Matter

During a science class, Levi, Addy, and Cora were asked to identify which of the following classroom items is considered matter. Can you help them?

• shoe

• pumpkin

• chair

• all of these

Answer explanation

All the items listed (shoe, pumpkin, chair) are considered matter because they have mass and occupy space. Therefore, the correct answer is 'all of these'.

Emma, Royce, and Addy are discussing the state of matter of different objects. Emma picked up a shoe and asked, 'This shoe is an example of which state of matter?'

• solid

• liquid

• gas

Answer explanation

The shoe is a solid because it has a definite shape and volume, unlike liquids and gases which take the shape of their container. Solids maintain their form, making 'solid' the correct answer.

Emma picked up a book from Liberty's table. A property of this book is...

• it can roll.

• It is magnetic.

• It keeps its shape when moved.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'It keeps its shape when moved' because books are typically rigid and maintain their form. The other options, 'it can roll' and 'It is magnetic,' do not accurately describe a book's primary property.

Evan, Addy, and Emma are having a picnic. They brought a bottle of milk with them. The milk is an example of which state of matter?

• solid

• liquid

• gas

Answer explanation

The milk is a liquid because it flows and takes the shape of its container, which is characteristic of liquids. Solids have a fixed shape, and gases fill the entire space available, making liquid the correct choice.

Piper poured some syrup on her pancakes. A property of the syrup is...

• It flows.

• It can be stacked.

• It holds its own shape.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'It flows' because syrup is a liquid, which means it can move and take the shape of its container. The other options, 'It can be stacked' and 'It holds its own shape,' do not apply to liquids.

Beckham, Claire, and Lacey are playing soccer. The soccer ball they are using has air inside of it.  What state of matter is the air inside the soccer ball?

• solid

• liquid

• gas

Answer explanation

The air inside the soccer ball is in the gas state of matter. Gases have no fixed shape or volume and fill the space available to them, which is exactly what happens with the air inside the ball.

T.J., Emma, and Pierce were discussing the properties of the helium gas in their party balloons. They agreed that the helium gas...

• takes up space in the balloons

• has mass

• has no shape of its own, it takes the shape of the balloons

• all of the above

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'all of the above' because helium gas takes up space in the balloons, has mass, and has no shape of its own, conforming to the shape of the balloons.

Lacey, Isaiah, and Liberty were observing different objects in their science class. They noticed that a certain object...
has mass
flows
spreads when poured.
According to their observations, what state of matter is the object in?

• solid

• liquid

• gas

Answer explanation

The object has mass, flows, and spreads when poured, which are characteristics of a liquid. Solids maintain shape and gases fill their container, making 'liquid' the correct state of matter.

Liberty, Stevie, and Evan are playing with a marble, an ice cube, and a popsicle. Which state of matter are these objects?

• solid

• liquid

• gas

Answer explanation

The marble, ice cube, and popsicle are all solid objects. Solids have a definite shape and volume, which applies to these items, making 'solid' the correct choice.

Beckham, Cora, and Piper are observing different types of matter. They notice that one type of matter has the following properties:
has mass
stacks
slides
shape doesn't change when moved.
Which type of matter are they observing?

• solid

• liquid

• gas

Answer explanation

They are observing a solid because it has mass, can stack, slides, and retains its shape when moved, which are all characteristics of solids.