List 5 examples of matter and five examples that are not matter. Explain your answers.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Examples of Matter
- Water
- Air
- Wood
- Iron
- Ice
Examples of Non-Matter
- Heat
- Light
- Sound
- Time
- Thoughts
Explanation:
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. This means it must have physical properties that can be observed or measured. All the examples listed under matter fulfill these conditions.
Water is a liquid that takes the shape of its container and has mass. Air is made up of gases like oxygen and nitrogen, which have mass and occupy space, even though they are invisible to the eye. Wood is a solid with definite shape and mass. Iron is a metal that also has mass and volume, and ice is the solid form of water, maintaining its physical shape and taking up space.
In contrast, non-matter refers to things that do not have mass and do not occupy space. These cannot be touched or held. Heat, for instance, is a form of energy that can transfer from one object to another but is not a substance itself. Light is electromagnetic radiation that allows us to see, but it is not made of matter. Sound is a vibration that travels through matter (like air or water), but the vibration itself is not matter. Time is a concept used to measure the duration of events but cannot be physically grasped. Thoughts are mental processes that occur in the brain; they are real experiences but do not have mass or occupy space.
The main distinction between matter and non-matter lies in physical properties. Matter can be measured, touched, or observed in some way, while non-matter exists as forms of energy, abstract concepts, or sensory experiences that do not fulfill the criteria of mass and volume.