Solids Liquids and Gases (teacher made) - Free Printable

The worksheet titled "What's the Matter?" is designed to help students understand the properties of different states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) by analyzing common objects and answering questions about their physical characteristics. Let's go through each item one by one and solve the problem with explanations.

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1. A strawberry is a ___

Image: A strawberry
Questions:

- Does it take up space? → Yes
*Explanation:* All matter takes up space. A strawberry occupies volume.

- Does it weigh anything? → Yes
*Explanation:* It has mass, so it weighs something (even if small).

- Can you see it? → Yes
*Explanation:* It is visible to the eye.

- Can it change its shape? → Yes (if squeezed or cut)
*Explanation:* While it’s solid, it can be deformed or broken into pieces.

✔ Answer: A strawberry is a solid.

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2. Steam is a ___

Image: Steam rising from a pot
Questions:

- Does it take up space? → Yes
*Explanation:* Gases expand to fill their container — steam occupies space.

- Does it weigh anything? → Yes
*Explanation:* Even though invisible, steam has mass.

- Can you see it? → Sometimes (but not really)
*Explanation:* What we see as "steam" is actually tiny water droplets (liquid), not the gas itself. True steam is invisible.

- Can it change its shape? → Yes
*Explanation:* Gases take the shape of their container.

✔ Answer: Steam is a gas.

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3. Oil is a ___

Image: A bottle of oil
Questions:

- Does it take up space? → Yes
*Explanation:* Liquids have volume.

- Does it weigh anything? → Yes
*Explanation:* It has mass.

- Can you see it? → Yes
*Explanation:* Oil is transparent or colored and visible.

- Can it change its shape? → Yes
*Explanation:* Liquids flow and take the shape of their container.

✔ Answer: Oil is a liquid.

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4. Ice is a ___

Image: A block of ice
Questions:

- Does it take up space? → Yes
*Explanation:* Solids occupy space.

- Does it weigh anything? → Yes
*Explanation:* Ice has mass.

- Can you see it? → Yes
*Explanation:* It is transparent or white and visible.

- Can it change its shape? → Yes (if melted or crushed)
*Explanation:* While it maintains shape in solid form, it can be broken or reshaped.

✔ Answer: Ice is a solid.

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5. A cloud is a ___

Image: A fluffy cloud
Questions:

- Does it take up space? → Yes
*Explanation:* Clouds are made of water vapor and tiny droplets; they occupy space.

- Does it weigh anything? → Yes
*Explanation:* Though light, clouds have mass due to water particles.

- Can you see it? → Yes
*Explanation:* Clouds are visible in the sky.

- Can it change its shape? → Yes
*Explanation:* Clouds constantly shift and morph due to wind and air currents.

✔ Answer: A cloud is a gas (water vapor) and liquid (tiny droplets). But in terms of state, it's mostly gas (water vapor) with suspended liquid droplets.

However, since the question asks “A cloud is a ___”, the best answer based on primary state is gas, though it's a mixture.

But note: In science education at this level, clouds are often described as a collection of tiny liquid water droplets suspended in air, so they are primarily liquid in form.

So depending on context:

- If focusing on state: liquid (because the visible part is liquid droplets)
- If focusing on composition: gas and liquid

But since the worksheet likely expects a single state, and the visible form is liquid droplets, the answer is:

✔ A cloud is a liquid (though scientifically nuanced).

But wait — true steam (gas) is invisible. The white stuff in clouds is liquid droplets.

So: ✔ A cloud is a liquid.

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6. Tree sap is a ___

Image: A tree with sap running down
Questions:

- Does it take up space? → Yes
*Explanation:* Sap is a fluid.

- Does it weigh anything? → Yes
*Explanation:* It has mass.

- Can you see it? → Yes
*Explanation:* Sap is visible when flowing.

- Can it change its shape? → Yes
*Explanation:* It flows like a liquid.

✔ Answer: Tree sap is a liquid.

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✔ Final Answers:

| Item | State |
|--------------|------------|
| Strawberry | Solid |
| Steam | Gas |
| Oil | Liquid |
| Ice | Solid |
| Cloud | Liquid (or gas/liquid mix, but typically taught as liquid) |
| Tree sap | Liquid |

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Summary of Key Concepts:

- Solids → Definite shape and volume; do not flow.
- Liquids → Definite volume, no definite shape; flow.
- Gases → No definite shape or volume; expand to fill container.

This worksheet teaches students to classify matter by observing real-world examples and understanding physical properties.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or a teacher's guide!