Matter

Level 1

What is matter?

Matter makes up everything around us: objects, air, living things, planets, and even invisible gases. It has mass and can be transformed to make useful objects.

  Concrete example: a smartphone contains more than 30 different materials: plastic (case), glass (screen), metals (circuits).

Origin of materials

  • Natural materials: Directly derived and extractable from nature, such as:
    • wood, stone, cotton, wool, gold.
  • Artificial materials: Made by humans and not existing naturally, such as:
    • plastics, glass, metal alloys.
  • Synthetic materials: Made by humans by reproducing natural materials, such as:
    • artificial silk, synthetic diamonds, synthetic rubber.

The main families of materials

  • Organic matter: Derived from living things:
    • wood, cotton, leather, petroleum and its derivatives (plastics, fuels).
  • Metallic materials: Derived from metallic ores:
    • iron, copper, aluminium, steel, bronze, brass.
  • Mineral materials: Derived from rock
    • granite, marble, glass, ceramics, concrete.

Thermal conduction

It is a quantity that measures the ability of a material to conduct heat. 

  Example : in a frying pan, the metal part heats up quickly (good conductor), while the plastic or wooden handle remains cold (insulator).

  • Good thermal conductors: metals (copper, aluminium, iron).
  • Thermal insulators: wood, plastic, wool, polystyrene.

🌡️ Thermal conduction

 
Copper — Very good thermal conductor. Heat spreads very quickly.

 

Hot Cold

Electrical conduction

It measures the ability of a material to allow electric current to pass through.

  • Electrical conductors: which allow electricity to pass through
    • metals, graphite, salt water.
  • Electrical insulators: which do not allow electricity to pass through
    • plastic, rubber, glass, ceramics, dry wood.

  Example : an electric wire consists of a conductor (copper) surrounded by an insulator (plastic) for safety.

⚡ Electrical conductor or insulator?

Click on a material to place it in the circuit, then test it.

 

 
← Choose a material

 

Density

Density indicates the amount of matter in a given volume. 
A kilogram of feathers takes up more space than a kilogram of lead: feathers are therefore less dense.

  • Less dense than water → floats (wood, cork, oil).
  • More dense than water → sinks (metals, glass, stone).

  Example : ice floats on water because it is less dense than liquid water.

Density and floating

Click on an object to drop it into the tank and observe whether it floats or sinks.

Objects to test

 

← Click on an object to test it

💡 An object floats if its density is lower than that of water (1.0).

Other properties

  • Hardness: diamond very hard, lead very soft.
  • Transparency: glass transparent, tracing paper translucent, wood opaque.
  • Mechanical strength: steel strong, glass fragile.