Matter Everywhere
What counts as matter — and what doesn't.
Setting up the bench…
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Hold your breath, then let it out. The air you breathed has mass and takes up space. A dog, a plant and a rock are all matter too — but is sunlight?
Predict first
What makes something count as 'matter'?
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space — living things, non-living things, solids, liquids and gases all count. Light, heat and sound are forms of energy, not matter.
- It has mass and takes up space — correct
- You can see and touch it
- It is alive
What you do
Sort each one: is it matter (has mass and takes up space) or not?
Check yourself
A living plant is…
Living things are matter too — they have mass and occupy space.
Which of these is NOT matter?
Sunlight is energy — it has no mass and takes up no space.
- matter — it has mass and takes up space — correct
- not matter, because it is alive
- matter only after it dies
- Sunlight — correct
- Steam
- Sand