This means that these particles are moving fast enough to overcome some of the force of attraction between them, thus allowing the liquid to flow. In a liquid state, substances can change their shape because their atoms or molecules have more energy than they do in a solid state. The volume of a liquid is usually measured in liters or milliliters. It takes on the shape of its container or simply spreads out upon a surface (think of a spilled glass of milk).

These particles vibrate in place but do not flow or move around, so the solid object maintains its shape and volume.Ī liquid is a substance that has a definite volume, but no definite shape. In solids, the atoms and molecules are close together, creating a strong attraction between them. The volume of a solid object is measured with a formula of length times width times depth. Cubic means it has three dimensions (height, length and depth). The volume of a solid object is measured in cubic units. What happens when you mix the two liquids together?Ī solid is a substance that has a definite shape and volume. If a something has less density than a liquid, it will float on top of it if it's denser, it will sink.

If two objects have equal volume, but one has more mass, the one with more mass is denser. Density is a useful measure because it isn't affected by pressure or temperature. Because different atoms have varying numbers of protons and neutrons in their nucleus, the matter of different substances contains different masses.ĭensity is the amount of matter a substance has in a given amount of space. A fourth state, plasma, only occurs under very special circumstances.Īll substances are made of matter, and matter itself is made up of particles, including single atoms and/or molecules. Matter comes in three basic states: solid, liquid and gas. Mass can be measured in kilograms, grams or milligrams. Mass is the amount of matter something is made of. Matter is a substance that has volume and mass.

Water states of matter