Matter is present in everything that surrounds us, including ourselves. Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms and is defined as anything that has mass and takes up space (has volume).

Mass is the amount of matter in an object regardless of size. This is the reason why an orange has so much more mass than a helium balloon.

Volume is the amount of space that something occupies. Words like big, small, long, or short are used to describe volume. A coin has a small volume compared to a sofa.

Likewise, matter comes in different forms. These shapes are known as states of matter. On our planet the most common states of matter are solid, liquid and gaseous. Look at your desk at school, it’s solid. The water you drink is a liquid and the bubbles you find in soda are made of gas (carbon dioxide).

Did you know . . . ?
✔ Under extreme conditions, matter can also adopt other states (other than solid, liquid, and gas) and develop other properties. This recent discovery is known as unusual states of matter.