Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space (volume). It is the physical “stuff” that makes up the universe, including everything we can see, touch, or even things invisible to the naked eye like air.
Key Points about Matter
- Made of particles: All matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms and molecules.
- Has mass: Matter always has weight, no matter how small.
- Occupies space: Matter takes up some amount of volume.
- Different states: Matter exists mainly in three states – solid, liquid, and gas. A fourth state, plasma, also exists in stars and lightning.
- Can change state: Matter can change from one state to another (e.g., ice → water → steam).
Examples of Matter
- Solid: Rock, wood, iron
- Liquid: Water, oil, milk
- Gas: Oxygen, carbon dioxide, air
- Plasma: Sun, fluorescent lamps
In short: Matter is everything around us that has mass and volume.