You are here: Home Subject Index Educational Science Matter & Energy

Matter & Energy

Parent Category: Educational

hotwire_e0

1. Everything in the Universe is made up of matter and energy.

2. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

3. Matter describes the physical things around us: the earth, the air you breathe, your pencil.

Matter is made up of particles called atoms and molecules. Atoms are particles of

elements - substances that cannot be broken down further.

4. There are currently 109 known elements, but obviously there are more than 109 different

substances in the universe. This is because atoms of elements can combine with one another

to form compounds.

5. There are 4 fundamental states of matter: solid, liquid, gas and plasma.

6. Energy is the ability to cause change or do work.

7. Some forms of energy include light, heat, chemical, nuclear, electrical energy and

mechanical energy.

8. There are two main types of energy: potential and kinetic. Potential energy is energy

that is stored, while kinetic energy is energy in use.

9. In order for electrical energy to flow, it must follow a complete path through a circuit.

10. Dark matter refers to material that can't be detected by their emitted radiation but

whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter, like stars

and galaxies. Dark energy, or negative energy, is the energy found in space.

hotwire_e0

hotwire_e0

Fast Facts Resources