Unit 1: Properties of Matter Vocabulary Meaño 6th Grade Science

Density (relative to various fluids)

• The ability of a material to sink or float in a fluid.

• The mass of an object divided by its volume.

• The temperature at which a substance changes state.

• The measure of how much space an object occupies.

Liquid

• A state of matter that has a definite shape and volume.

• A state of matter that takes the shape of its container and has an unchanged volume.

• A state of matter that has no definite shape or volume.

• A state of matter that can be compressed easily.

Fluids

• Substances that have a definite shape, like solids.

• Substances that have an indefinite shape, like liquids and gases.

• Substances that can only exist in a solid state.

• Substances that are always compressible.

Gas

• A state of matter in which the substance expands to take both the shape and volume of its container.

• A state of matter that has a definite shape but no definite volume.

• A state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape.

• A state of matter that is incompressible and has a fixed shape.

Pure substance

• Samples of matter that are made up of the same particles.

• A mixture of different substances.

• A substance that can be separated into simpler substances by physical means.

• A substance that has variable composition.

Kinetic energy

• Energy of objects in motion.

• Energy stored in an object at rest.

• Energy that can be converted into heat.

• Energy associated with the position of an object.

Heterogenous mixture

• A mixture that is uniform throughout.

• A mixture that contains only one type of substance.

• A mixture that is not uniform throughout.

• A mixture that can be easily separated by physical means.

Homogeneous mixture

• A mixture that is uniform throughout.

• A mixture with distinct layers.

• A mixture that can be easily separated by physical means.

• A mixture that contains different substances that are easily identified.

Volume

• The amount of space that a substance or object takes up.

• The weight of an object in a given space.

• The density of a substance in a specific volume.

• The temperature of a substance in a given area.

Solid

• A state of matter in which the substance has a set shape and size.

• A state of matter that flows and takes the shape of its container.

• A state of matter that has no fixed shape and expands to fill its container.

• A state of matter that can exist in both liquid and gas forms.