Changes in States of Matter Flashcards

Grade 4 · Science · Flashcards

Essential vocabulary for understanding how matter changes between solid, liquid, and gas.

Flashcards

Matter: Anything that has mass and takes up space; everything around us is made of matter
Solid: A state of matter with a definite shape and volume; particles are tightly packed and vibrate in place
Liquid: A state of matter with a definite volume but no definite shape; particles slide past each other
Gas: A state of matter with no definite shape or volume; particles move rapidly and spread out to fill any container
Melting: The physical change from solid to liquid when thermal energy is added
Melting point: The temperature at which a substance changes from solid to liquid; ice melts at 0 degrees Celsius
Freezing: The physical change from liquid to solid when thermal energy is removed
Freezing point: The temperature at which a substance changes from liquid to solid; water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius
Evaporation: The change from liquid to gas; can happen at any temperature but is fastest at the boiling point
Boiling: Rapid evaporation throughout a liquid that occurs at the boiling point; water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
Condensation: The change from gas to liquid when the gas loses heat energy
Physical change: A change in the form or appearance of matter that does not create a new substance (e.g., melting ice)
Thermal energy: Heat energy; adding thermal energy causes matter to move to a higher state (solid to liquid to gas)