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The word matter has more than one meaning. Its most classic and ancient value refers to everything that has mass and occupies a place in space, that is, to the primary reality from which the things that surround us or the physical world are made, and, for the most part, perceptible by the senses, and to this value the examples will allude.
However, it should be borne in mind that everything is also called "matter" that which is opposed to the concept of "spirit". Also, this word is synonymous with “question”, "reason" or "affair", that is, the point that something is about.
And in a last sense, this word is equivalent to "subject", that is, a formal course in an academic context.
Characteristics of physical matter
Physical matter consists of elementary particles, which are the atoms, and has the properties of extension, inertia and gravitation. Extension is the property that describes the fact that matter occupies a place in space and is measurable through its mass or volume.
The inertia is the resistance that matter opposes to modify its state of rest, and this is greater the greater the mass. The gravitation is the property of mutual attraction that all objects composed of matter have.
The chemistry It is the scientific discipline that studies the nature, composition and transformation of matter. In non-extreme temperature conditions, matter can present itself in three different physical states: solid, liquid, and gas.
The amount of matter of a body defines its dough, which is usually expressed in kilograms or grams, whereas the volume, that is, the space it occupies, is generally measured in meters or cubic decimeters.
It should be clarified that mass represents a measure of inertia or resistance. This force can be derived from the Earth's gravitational field, and in this case it is called weight, but weight and mass are not strictly synonymous terms.
In general terms the matter obeys Lavoisier's Law or Law of Conservation of Matter, which stipulates that “in a closed system in which chemical reactions take place, matter is neither created nor destroyed, it only transforms; that is, the mass of the reactants is equal to the mass of the products ”. Today it is known that this law is not entirely accurate.
Most of the matter around us is inanimate or inert, because it does not reproduce or grow. But also everything that is alive constitutes matter and is composed of atoms and molecules.
Examples of matter
| Book | Natural gas |
| Nylon | Rubber |
| Chair | Skin |
| Water | Rod |
| Car | Emery |
| Cloud | Milk |
| Wood | Salt |
| Glass | Meat |
| Air | Wool |
| Lock | Bone meal |
