States of Matter

        The following terms are helpful in studying the states of matter

        amorphous material
        non-crystalline material that is sometimes classified as a very thick liquid- like Oobleck, Slime, Silly Putty, glass, and wax.
        Archimedes' Principle
        The buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by that object. This explains why ships float and helium balloons accelerate upwards.
        Bernoulli's Principle
        As the speed of a fluid increases, the pressure exerted by this fluid decreases. This explains why airplanes fly, why "breaking balls" in baseball curve, and why windows break in storms.
        Boyles' Law
        If the volume of a gas is decreased(consstant temperature), then the pressure exerted by that gas increases. Remember the syringe on the overhead?
        Buoyant force
        the upward push of a fluid(gas or liquid)on an object placed in it
        Charles' Law
        If the temperature of a gas is increased(constant pressure, the volume of the gas also increases. Remember the balloon lab?
        crystal
        repating geometric pattern made by the particles of all true solids
        gas
        state of matter that has an indefinite shape and indefinite volume
        kinetic theory of matter
        all matter is made up of tiny particles that are constantly in motion. This helps explain the properties of the different states of matter.
        liquid
        state of matter that has a definite volume but an indefinite shape. It takes the shape of its container.
        Pascal(Pa)
        The SI unit of pressure. It's equal to one Newton of force applied over an area of one square meter. One Pascal would be equal to the effects of spreading a stick of butter over an area of one square meter- not very much!!
        plasma
        the gaslike state of matter that consists of electrically charged particles. It is the most common state of matter in the universe, found in the sun and stars, but not very common on earth. We experience it best in fluorescent light bulbs, sodium vapor lights, and neon signs. Incidentally, it'snot the plasma found in your blood. That's another type of plasma. Your blood plasma is actually a liquid.
        pressure
        the force (push) per unit area of space. It's measured in pascals (Pa).
        solid
        the state of matter that has both a definite shape and volume. True solids are crystalline in structure.
        thermal expansion
        most substances expandwhen they are heated and shrink when cooled. Remember the iron ball and ring?

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