What are the defining characteristics of matter

Physics · Middle School · Wed Jan 13 2021

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Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass. It is composed of particles, such as atoms and molecules. The defining characteristics of matter include:

  1. Mass:
  • Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is a scalar quantity and is typically measured in units like grams or kilograms.

2.Volume:

  • Volume is the amount of space that matter occupies. It is a three-dimensional quantity and is measured in units like cubic centimeters or liters.

3.Density:

  • Density is the mass of an object per unit volume. It is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume and is expressed as mass/volume.

4.States of Matter:

  • Matter can exist in different states: solid, liquid, gas, and, under certain conditions, plasma. The state of matter is determined by the arrangement and motion of its particles.

5. Chemical Composition:

  • Matter is composed of elements, which are substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. Elements are made up of atoms, the basic units of matter.