Activity 1

Which is matter, which is not?

Objectives: Materials Needed:

After performing this activity, you
should be able to:
1. describe common properties of
matter;
2. distinguish properties of matter
from those of non-matter; and
3. demonstrate the skill of
measuring mass.
1 teaspoon sugar in a plastic cup or small beaker
1⁄2 cup tapwater
1 piece, stone or small rock
1 piece, ball (basketball, volleyball, or small beach ball)
3 pieces of leaves (from any plant or tree)
5 small wide-mouthed bottles or cups or 150-mL or 200-mL beakers
1 platform balance or weighing scale
1 small air pump

Procedure:

1. Among the materials displayed in front of you, which do you think is classified
as matter? Put a check () under the appropriate column in Table 1. You may
make a table similar to the one below. With your group mates, discuss the
reason to explain your answer for each sample. Write your answer in the last
column.

2. If your group cannot agree on a common answer, you may put a checkmark
under “not sure” and write all the reasons given by the members of your group.
Q1. What similarities do you observe among the first five given samples? Write
these common characteristics.
Q2. Does each sample have a measurable mass? Prove your answer by
demonstrating how you measure the mass of each sample. Record the mass
you got for each sample.
Q3. Do you think that each sample occupies space? Write the reason(s) for your
answer.
Q4. How about smoke? Does it have mass? Does it occupy space? Explain your
answer.
Q5. Do you think that heat and light have mass? Do they occupy space? Explain
your answer.