Matter Questions & MCQ — Practice with Answers

What is matter?

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. A book, water, and the air around you are all examples of matter because they all have mass and take up space. Things like light, heat, sound, and shadows are not matter because they do not have mass and do not occupy space.

The three states of matter

Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas. Each state has different properties when it comes to shape and volume. The same substance can exist in different states — for example, water can be a solid (ice), a liquid (water), or a gas (water vapour).

Properties of solids

A solid has a definite shape and a definite volume. It does not change shape on its own, and it does not change in size unless you add or remove material. Examples include a wooden block, a coin, and a rubber ball. Even if you squeeze or reshape a piece of plasticine, its volume stays the same — only its shape changes.

Properties of liquids

A liquid has no definite shape but has a definite volume. This means a liquid takes the shape of its container — pour water from a cup into a bottle, and the water changes shape but the amount stays the same. Examples include water, milk, and cooking oil.

Properties of gases

A gas has no definite shape and no definite volume. A gas spreads out to fill the entire container it is in. If you open a bottle of perfume in a room, the scent eventually reaches every corner — this shows that gas particles spread out to fill the available space. Examples include the air we breathe and water vapour.

“Air is not matter because you cannot see it.” Air is matter — it has mass and occupies space, even though it is invisible. You can prove air has mass by comparing the weight of an inflated balloon with a deflated one. You can prove air occupies space by pushing an inverted cup into water — the air trapped inside prevents water from filling the cup completely.

“Heavy things are always solids.” Mass does not determine the state of matter. A bucket of water can be heavier than a small wooden block, but water is still a liquid. The state of matter depends on whether the substance has a definite shape and volume — not on how heavy it is.

“Liquids do not have mass.” All matter has mass, including liquids. You can measure the mass of a liquid by weighing a container before and after filling it. The difference gives you the mass of the liquid. In science experiments, we often use a weighing scale to find the mass of water.

“Changing the shape of an object changes its volume.” This is a very common exam trap. If you flatten a ball of plasticine into a pancake shape, its shape changes but its volume stays the same — no matter has been added or removed. Only adding or removing material changes the volume of a solid.