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Matter's States Worksheet

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Matter's States Worksheet

A cold snap has affected a field station in Aotearoa New Zealand. Use the particle model and the information on this page to investigate solids, liquids and gases. Answer every question; use evidence from the scenario where asked.

Part A: Particle model

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. The particle model explains how matter behaves: particles in a solid vibrate in fixed positions; particles in a liquid stay close but move past one another; particles in a gas move freely and are widely spaced. Heating usually makes particles move faster; cooling usually makes them move more slowly.

1.The field station has a metal spoon, a bottle of cooking oil and air inside a tyre. Match each sample to its state: solid, liquid or gas.
  • Metal spoon
  • Cooking oil
  • Air in the tyre
  • Liquid
  • Solid
  • Gas
2.Which statement best explains why a solid keeps its shape?
  • Its particles are far apart and move freely.
  • Its particles vibrate around fixed positions.
  • Its particles flow past one another.
  • Its particles have no mass.
3.The oil is poured from a narrow bottle into a wide bowl. What happens to its shape and volume?
4.A sealed syringe contains air. When its plunger is pushed in, the air takes up less space. Explain this using particles.

Part B: Follow the water

At the station, water is heated in a kettle. The liquid water becomes water vapour. Later, the vapour touches a cold window and tiny liquid droplets form. Overnight, some of the water in an outdoor tray freezes.

5.Complete each change of state: liquid water → when heated; water vapour → when cooled; liquid water → when cooled enough.
6.Choose the best explanation for the droplets on the cold window.
  • The glass changes into water.
  • Water vapour cools and condenses into liquid droplets.
  • The liquid water boils on the glass.
  • The air particles stop existing.
7.True or false: when water freezes, its particles stop moving completely. Correct the statement if it is false.
TrueFalse
8.Explain what heating does to the movement of particles and how this can lead to a change of state.

Part C: Test the evidence

A student says, “Steam is the same as the white cloud above a kettle.” In science, steam is water in the gas state; the visible white cloud is made of tiny liquid droplets formed as water vapour cools.

9.Is the student’s claim fully accurate? Use the information above to explain the difference between steam and the visible white cloud.
10.A sealed container holds a gas. The gas is cooled but remains a gas. Describe how its particles’ movement changes, and state whether the gas still has a fixed shape.

3 printable pages

  • Matter's States Worksheet, page 1 of 3: Part A: Particle model

    Page 1

  • Matter's States Worksheet, page 2 of 3: Part B: Follow the water

    Page 2

  • Matter's States Worksheet, page 3 of 3: Part C: Test the evidence

    Page 3

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