Human beings learn complicated concepts from others through various methods of communication. Measuring cup or graduated cylinder, glass containers of various sizes and shapes, food coloring. All around us are numerous examples of matter that we see, feel, smell or taste such as rocks, rabbit fur, smoke, or a chocolate chip cookie. These are just a few of the millions of examples of matter. A block of wood is an example of a solid.
Liquids have a definite volume, but take the shape of the container which they occupy.
The next phase of matter is the gas which has no definite shape, thus shape is determined by the container occupied. The fourth phase of matter, which may be new to you is called plasma. Yesterday, we talked about the structure of matter and its phases. Today we will learn about atoms which are tiny particles making up matter and the even smaller particles of which atoms are composed. An atom is the basic unit of an element.