Matter

Matter

Matter (/ˈmætər/) is a substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. This includes atoms and anything made up of these, but not other energy phenomena or waves such as light or sound.

Etymology

The word "matter" comes from the Latin word materia, meaning "substance from which something is made," and mater, meaning "mother."

Definition

Matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. This includes atoms and anything made up of these, but not other energy phenomena or waves such as light or sound. More generally, however, in Physics, matter does not refer to mass but to that which has rest mass and whose energy content is dependent not only on motion but also on its rest mass.

Properties of Matter

Matter is characterized by its mass, volume, and the space that it occupies. The basic properties of matter include density, elasticity, plasticity, inertia, and conductivity.

States of Matter

Matter exists in four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Each state has distinct characteristics. Solids have a definite shape and volume. Liquids have a definite volume but can change shape. Gases can change both shape and volume. Plasma is an ionized gas, a gas into which sufficient energy is provided to free electrons from atoms or molecules and to allow both species, ions and electrons, to coexist.

Related Terms

• Atom
• Molecule
• Compound
• Element
• Substance
• Mass
• Volume
• Density
• Elasticity
• Plasticity
• Inertia
• Conductivity
• Solid
• Liquid
• Gas
• Plasma
• Physics

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Matter
• Wikipedia's article - Matter

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