Question

List the characteristics of the particles of matter. Describe one activity to illustrate each characteristic.

Answer 1

The important characteristics of matter are :
1. The particles of matter are very, very small.
2. The particles of matter attract each other.
3. particles of matter move continuously
Example :
1. The particles of matter are very, very small:
When a tea spoon of salt is dissolved in one or two litre of water, every drops of that water taste salty.

When few drops of dettol are mixed in water, whole water gives the smell of dettol. Even after diluting this dettol mixed water, it gives the smell of dettol.

This proves that particles of matter are very small.

2.Example for Particles of matter attract each other because of force of attraction: 

we can move our hand through air easily. To move our hand in liquid, such as water, we have to apply some force, but for a solid such as wood, we cannot move our hand. This is because the force of attraction between particles of gas is almost negligible, in liquid the forces of attraction is moderate but it is greatest in solid.

3.Examples that shows that particles of matter are continuously moving are as follows:

The smell of food being cooked in the kitchen reaches us even from a considerable distance.

The fragrance of burning incense stick spreads all around.

The smell of perfume spreads due to the diffusion of perfume vapours into air.