Physical States of Matter

(Web quest for Grade 1)

Water has three physical states it can be a gas, liquid or solid. These three states differ in the amount of energy they each possess and the way they look to us.

Liquid

Water in the Liquid form is found is many different places like running rivers, facets, rain, swimming pools, oceans etc. In the liquid state the molecules are free to move around each other slowly and closely.

Water as a Solid

Ice

Water in a solid state can be seen in many different places. Ice cubes, snow, frost, and ice on a skating rink are all examples of water that is in the form of a solid. The solid state has the least amount of energy, and the molecules are frozen in place, which makes the water form a solid appearance.

Water as a Gas state:

Steam

The gaseous state has the most energy of the three states, the molecules are moving quickly and independently. Some examples of water in a gaseous state are when you boil water over a stove and the steam rises, and fog that is in the air.

Changes in States

(Vocabulary to know)

· The process in which a liquid becomes a solid is called freezing.

· Melting is the process in which a solid becomes a liquid.

· Condensation is the process in which a gas becomes a liquid.

· The temperature at which matter changes from solid to liquid is called Melting Point.

· The physical change in state from a liquid to a gas is called Boiling Point.

Here are some good links for you to check out so you can learn more about the three physical states of water.

· http://www.uni.edu/~iowawet/H2OProperties.html

· http://www.elytradesign.com/ali/html/solids.htm

· http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/matterstates.htm

· Yahooligans.com

· http://www.creativeclassroom.org/jf02aplus/science.html

Your job is to go to these sites look at the pictures and investigate more about solids, liquids, and gases. Once you have done your investigations on the three physical states of matter record some information down that you learned in the space provided below.

· Can you list the three states of mater, and tell one piece of information you learned about each?

1)

2)

3)

· Can you give three examples of each physical state of water that there is? For example if I was thinking of examples of a liquid I might say a puddle, a cup of water, and the water in a pool?

1)

2)

3)

Matter is everywhere in the world and there is a lot of information out there to learn about it. Now that you have a brief introduction to it you can investigate more to learn more new and exciting things about matter.

Always have fun, while you learn

By Eliza Kraham

Inquiry Block

Spring 2003