The 9 general properties of matter

A summary of the general properties of matter: weight, volume, elasticity, hardness...

In this article you will find an explanation of the general properties of matter. We will see how these have to do with the physical and chemical characteristics of bodies or objects.

You will find in a summarized way what each of these properties consists of, and examples of each one of them.

What is matter?

Before we talk about the general properties of matter, let's try to explain what matter is. This is the main component of bodies (i.e., physical objects); it is the substance that makes up these objects.. It can be of different forms, and undergo different changes.

Matter has a series of properties, both physical and chemical, which can be perceived through our senses. At the chemical level, matter can occur in three different states: liquid, solid or gas.

General properties of matter

What are the general properties of matter? They are those characteristics of matter that are related to its physical properties, such as the weight of objects, their volume, size, length, etc., as well as their chemical properties, through which matter itself modifies its composition..

1. Volume

The first of the general properties of matter that we are going to talk about is volume. Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space that encloses a closed surfaceIt is the space that a body occupies (or the space it contains).

This space has three dimensions: height, width and length. The unit of measurement of volume, according to the SI (International System), is the cubic meter, which is expressed in m3. An example of volume can be found in books; its volume is equal to its length x width x thickness.

2. Weight

Weight, another property of matter; consists of the gravitational force acting on a body.. Mathematically, weight is equal to: Fg (gravitational force) = m (mass) x g (acceleration of gravity). (Note: the acceleration of gravity = 9.8 m/sec2). In this case, its SI unit is the Newton, and it is expressed as: kg-m-sec-2.

When we talk about weight, we refer, although it sounds repetitive, to how much an object weighs; heavy objects (e.g. a metal box) are more difficult to pick up or drag, than objects that weigh less (e.g. a feather). Thus, the heavier a body weighs, the greater the gravitational force acting on it.

To illustrate this with an example, let's think about the weight of a person; according to the mathematical formula mentioned above, his weight on the Moon will be much less than on Earth, and this is because the gravity on the Moon is less.

Mobility

The next of the general properties of matter is mobility, which is related to the speed at which it can move. has to do with the speed at which a body moves through a medium..

In physics, mobility has to do with the ease with which a charged particle moves through a solid material under the influence of an electric field; thus, the faster the particle moves, the greater this property, i.e., its mobility.

An example of mobility; a tennis player will have a greater mobility than a person who has never trained, and this will help him to reach the balls.

4. Inertia

Inertia, another of the general properties of matter, is a physical property of matter; applied to a body, implies that it remains at rest or moves at a speed that is constant and rectilinear.. It is a passive property of matter.

To illustrate an example of inertia, let us imagine riding in a car going at a certain speed. It accelerates abruptly; the people inside, as well as us, will be "hooked" to the seats of the vehicle, due to the inertia, which makes the body try to maintain the original speed of the people.

If, on the other hand, the car brakes abruptly, the people inside the vehicle will move to the front (this is why the seat belt is essential for road safety).

5. Porosity

Porosity is that property of the bodies that are full of small holesThis characteristic allows liquid or gaseous substances to flow through bodies in solid state. Thus, bodies or objects that have pores (porosity) are permeable.

An example of an object that has porosity is a strainer (a kitchen utensil), which we use to filter liquids and remove particles that we do not want (or that we want to concentrate).

6. Hardness (impenetrability)

Hardness is that property that some objects have of resisting the penetration of a load.. Another definition of hardness is "the resistance of a body to being scratched". For example, a diamond is extremely hard, which is why it is very difficult (or impossible) to scratch.

This property of matter is measured on a scale, called the Mohs Scale, which is based on the scratching of one mineral by another. This scale goes from 1 to 10, with 1 being talc (the least hard material), and 10 being diamond (the hardest material).

7. Elasticity

Elasticity is a physical property of matter; it implies that an elastic body stretches or deforms due to a force exerted on it. Elastic bodies can exert a force contrary to the force that deforms them; moreover, they can restore their shape.They can also return to their original shape if the force exerted on them ceases. The SI unit for elasticity is the pascal (Pa).

An example of elasticity is a rubber that is stretched; if you stop exerting such force, the rubber recovers its original state and shape (this is elasticity). In other words; elasticity implies that a body recovers its original shape when force is no longer applied to it.

8. Divisibility

Divisibility implies that a body can be divided into exactly equal parts.The result of this property is an exact and measurable result.

An example of divisibility can be found in everyday life; let's imagine that we have to divide a cake into eight equal parts, or a 1L juice to be divided among 5 people. Divisibility is the property that is part of these processes.

9. Mass

The last of the general properties of matter is mass; mass is a measure of the amount of matter in a given mass. measures the amount of matter that a given substance has (regardless of its location in space). (regardless of its location in space). Thus, this property is not influenced by the force of gravity; neither does it depend on the shape of the body or object in question.

In physics, we understand the mass of a body as the "resistance it offers to change its resting condition", or the constant velocity at which it moves. Its SI unit is the kilogram, expressed as kg.

To illustrate this property, let us imagine having to push a shopping truck; we will have to push harder if this truck is full than if it is empty.

Bibliographical references:

• Burbano S., Burbano E. and Gracia, C. (2004). General Physics. Editorial Tebar.
• Gettys, Keller, Skove. (1991). Classic and Modern Physics. Editorial McGraw-Hill.