The Mystery of Matter
Discover the two tests of matter: mass and space
Setting up the bench…
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
You can weigh a stone and pour a glass of water, but you can't bottle sunlight or hold a sound in your hand. Matter is the 'stuff' — it has mass and takes up space.
Predict first
What two things must something have to count as matter?
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space — solid, liquid or gas. Forms of energy like light, heat and sound are NOT matter.
- Mass, and it takes up space (volume) — correct
- A colour and a smell
- Life and movement
What you do
Sort each one: is it matter (has mass, takes up space), or not matter?
Check yourself
Why is a gas like oxygen still matter?
You can't see it, but oxygen has mass and fills space — so it is matter.
Which of these is NOT matter?
Heat is a form of energy — no mass, no volume — so it isn't matter.
- It has mass and takes up space — correct
- Because it is invisible
- Because it is very light
- Heat — correct
- Water vapour
- Dust