Breaking Down the Phases of Matter One Change at a Time
What are the Phases of Matter?
Solid
A solid is a state of matter that retains its shape when not confined, and has a fixed volume. An example of a solid would be something like a cardboard box or a chair.
Liquid
Liquid is matter that has a fixed volume, but no definite shape. Liquids usually take the shape of their container. An example of liquid would be water. If you pour water into a cup, the water takes the shape of the cup.
Gas
A gas has no fixed volume or shape. Gases expand and move around their container to take their shape. Gases also are not affected by gravity in the way that the other types of matter are. Gases can rise and move through the atmosphere with little to no effects from gravity. However, there are some instances in which gases are affected by gravity.
Bonus Phase
Plasma
Plasma is an electrically conducting medium in which there are roughly equal numbers of positively and negatively charged particles, produced when the atoms in a gas become ionized. It is sometimes referred to as the fourth state of matter, distinct from the solid, liquid, and gaseous states.