What is matter?

What is matter?

• A. A living thing
• B. Anything with mass that takes up space
• C. A force that causes motion
• D. Energy

Answer: (B)

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. This means rocks, water, air, and living beings all fit the idea, because each has mass and occupies volume. Mass tells us how much matter is present, while occupying space means it has volume. Energy, on the other hand, isn’t matter, even though it can cause changes in motion or state. A force that causes motion isn’t matter either. So the description “anything with mass that takes up space” best captures what we mean by matter.

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. This means rocks, water, air, and living beings all fit the idea, because each has mass and occupies volume. Mass tells us how much matter is present, while occupying space means it has volume. Energy, on the other hand, isn’t matter, even though it can cause changes in motion or state. A force that causes motion isn’t matter either. So the description “anything with mass that takes up space” best captures what we mean by matter.