The Three States of Matter

Matter is basically the stuff that makes up everything you can see, touch, or breathe. Your desk, the water in your bottle, and even the air around you are all different types of matter.

Scientists have discovered that all matter is built from incredibly tiny building blocks called atoms. Think of atoms like invisible LEGO pieces that stick together in different ways to create everything in the universe.

Matter exists in three main states: solids, liquids, and gases. The difference between these states comes down to how the atoms (or particles) are arranged and how they move about.

Quick Tip: Remember the three states by thinking of water - ice (solid), water (liquid), and steam (gas) are all the same stuff, just in different states!

Solids have particles packed tightly together like people squashed in a busy lift. These particles can only vibrate on the spot, which is why solids keep their shape and are really hard to squash.

Liquids have particles that are still quite close but can slide past each other like people walking through a crowded shopping centre. This means liquids keep the same volume but can change shape to fit their container.

Gases have particles zooming about freely with loads of space between them, like people running around an empty football pitch. That's why gases can be squashed easily and will spread out to fill any container you put them in.