State of matter
State of Matter
State of Matter (pronunciation: /steɪt ɒv ˈmætər/) is a term used in Physics to describe the distinct forms that different phases of matter take on. The four fundamental states of matter observable in everyday life are Solid, Liquid, Gas, and Plasma.
Etymology
The term "State of Matter" originates from the Latin word "status" meaning condition or position, and the Middle English word "matere" meaning substance or material.
Solid
A Solid (pronunciation: /ˈsɒlɪd/) is a state of matter characterized by particles arranged such that their shape and volume are relatively stable. The constituents of a solid tend to be packed together much closer than the particles in a gas or liquid.
Liquid
A Liquid (pronunciation: /ˈlɪkwɪd/) is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure.
Gas
A Gas (pronunciation: /gæs/) is a state of matter consisting of particles that have neither a defined volume nor defined shape. It is one of the four fundamental states of matter, along with solids, liquids, and plasma.
Plasma
Plasma (pronunciation: /ˈplæzmə/) is one of the four fundamental states of matter, and was first described by chemist Irving Langmuir in the 1920s. Unlike other states of matter, plasma does not exist freely on the Earth's surface under normal conditions and can only be artificially generated from neutral gases.
Related Terms
- Phase (matter): A phase is a region of space (a thermodynamic system), throughout which all physical properties of a material are essentially uniform.
- Phase transition: A phase transition is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase or state of matter to another.
- Condensed matter physics: Condensed matter physics is the field of physics that deals with the macroscopic and microscopic physical properties of matter.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on State of matter
- Wikipedia's article - State of matter
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