Pre-Assessment: States of Matter

Matter is defined as anything that takes up space, which includes solids, liquids, and gases. The other options are incorrect because matter is not limited to color, touch, or movement.

A rock is a solid material composed of minerals, making it the only solid option among the choices. Juice and steam are liquids and gases, respectively, while a balloon is typically filled with air, not a solid.

Choice B correctly illustrates the arrangement of particles in a liquid, showing them close together but not in a fixed position, allowing for movement. This is characteristic of liquids, unlike the other options.

Liquids differ from solids because they can move and change shape, adapting to the container they are in. Solids maintain a fixed shape, while liquids flow and take the shape of their surroundings.

When you blow air into a balloon, you are filling it with gas. Air is a mixture of gases, primarily nitrogen and oxygen, which occupy space and can be compressed, making 'Gas' the correct answer.

When an ice cube is left outside on a warm day, it absorbs heat from the environment, causing it to melt into water. This process occurs because the temperature exceeds the melting point of ice.

As ice melts, its shape changes from a solid block to water, but its weight and composition remain the same. Therefore, the correct answer is 'the shape'.