Introduction of Matter, Energy, and
Physics
Matter is everything that has mass and occupies space. Energy is the ability of matter to do work.
Physics is the study of matter, energy, and the laws that govern their interactions.
What is matter? Matter is made up of atoms and molecules. A atom is the smallest particle of an
element that has the chemical properties of that element. Molecules are composed of two or more
atoms. When two or more atoms are joined together they form a molecule. The molecules are held
together by chemical bonds. The molecules have a shape and a size. They can move around in space.
Matter can be solid, liquid, or gas (vapor).
What is energy? Energy is the ability of matter to do work. Energy can be converted from one form to
another form. Energy can be used to do things like move objects, heat things up, and make things
light up (photons). Energy can also be converted into other forms of energy like heat, light, motion,
sound, and electricity.
Why is it important to know about matter and energy? Matter and energy play a big role in our
everyday lives. For example, we use matter to do things like move objects , heat things up, and make
things light up. We may even use energy to do work like lift something heavy or hit a ball really far.
Matter and energy also play big roles in science. For example, scientists study matter and energy at all
different levels to understand how the universe works.Scientists study matter and energy because
they are important to our everyday lives. We need electricity for our computers, lights, and
appliances. We use food every day to get nutrients into our bodies. And we use matter to do
everything from building homes, making clothes, moving cars with engines, going on vacations,
etc.Scientists tell us that all of these things are made out of atoms (small particles). Atoms have a core
(the center) with electrons inside. Electrons are only a tiny part of atoms, but electrons are what
make atoms tick. They move around and change the atoms' structure or configuration (shape) to do
things. For example, an atom may be in one place when you press a button on your remote control;
then it goes somewhere else as you press another button on the remote control. Or it may be in two
places at once! That's called a quantum leap.Electrons can also change their shape to go from one
position to another much faster than a regular atom can move (in other words: they have more
energy). This is called "quantum jump." In this way, physicists have figured out how matter
works.Scientists use different kinds of instruments and techniques to measure how atoms change
shape. These measurements are called "spectroscopic" studies. One type of instrument, called an
"infrared spectrum," is used to study molecular movement. Infrared light has a longer wavelength
than visible light (which is only about 400–700 nanometers long). Infrared light has been used for
hundreds of years to study the chemical composition of plants and animals, and it still is used in
medicine today. But infrared waves do not penetrate very far into human tissue (the skin or
gastrointestinal tract). To get deeper into the body, scientists use different types of instruments to
study the shape of atoms. For example, they may use a "molecular beam." This type of instrument
shines an intense beam through a tiny hole in a piece of equipment called a diffraction grating (see
Figure 2). The intense beam splits the light into many separate waves, which are sensitive to the
yellow color. The researchers look at how the waves bend in the grating to see where individual
atoms on molecules move. They use this information to build models of movement through
membranes and other types of cell structure.
Matter and Energy in our Daily Lives
Matter is anything that has mass and energy. Matter can be things like rocks, dirt, and water. Energy
is what makes things move. It can be something like heat or electricity. Matter and energy are
important in our daily lives because they are the things that make things happen. For example, if
there was no matter, then nothing would be able to move. Energy would just stay in the same place.
But since matter has mass and energy, it can move around. Energy can also make things happen like
heat can make something warm or electricity can make something light up. Matter and energy are
always working together to make everything happen. Energy and Matter are always changing. For
example, matter is turning into energy because things like animals are eating food or plants are
growing. Energy is also changing all the time. When you get out of bed in the morning, your parents
have to turn on the lights, so that you can see the time and get ready for school. But it takes a lot of
energy to do this (there’s a big lightbulb in your room and lots of electrical wires running through your
house). So when you go to bed at night, it takes a lot of energy to keep all these things going so that
they work properly (lights stay on and electricity keeps everything running). The way things change
from one thing to another is called transformations .
If you have any electrical appliances in your house, like a radio or a TV, these will probably work with
electricity that comes from somewhere. This electricity is produced by the burning of light
carbohydrate fuel (usually coal) at power stations. They heat water and force it through turbines,
which are connected to dynamos and make electricity go out into the world.
