Oobleck! No, that’s not an exclamation of disgust; it’s a type of colloidal suspension described in Matter. Get an in-depth look at matter’s many mixed-up forms, including alloys and emulsions, and examine its four possible states: solid, liquid, gas and plasma.
But just what is (the) matter? This unit pins down matter’s complex composition, starting with an explanation of how it exists in every object in existence, even the lowliest speck of dust. After that, it will move through a survey of how mass, weight, volume and density define every bit of stuff in the universe.
Come on! Take a spin through a supernova—where matter begins—and read about how changes in the state of matter explain why ice cream melts, why glass is clear and even how cotton candy is made. Learn how heat, color and smell can alert you that matter is changing forms. See how putting matter to work in weird ways – like in “smart” buildings that can use a special fluid that moves easily between solid and liquid to absorb the force of an earthquake—may sound like way-out-there ideas, but when it comes to the versatility of matter, the sky is really the limit.
7 Topics in this unit
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What Is Matter?
The air you’re breathing, the chair you’re sitting in, the orange juice you ma ...
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Properties and States of Matter
You can use your senses to describe many properties, or distinctive features, of matter.
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Mixtures and Matter
Trail mix, club soda, concrete, salt water, sand, juice, air, mayonnaise, pudding: mixture ...
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Different Kinds of Matter
Try these riddles: How are a baseball, a flower, a brick, and a nail alike? How is water l ...
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State Matters
Water freezes, ice melts, and steam condenses. These are ways that water—and all mat ...
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Physical and Chemical Changes
Matter is changing all around you.
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How Matter Works
Over the years, people have used the properties of solids, liquids, and gases to do and ma ...
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