Examples of Matter

• Classify air, water, stone, wood as matter.
• Light and sound are NOT matter — they have no mass in this sense.
• Sort classroom items into matter vs non-matter.
• Use Looking Around 3 outdoor list — clouds, sun's light, soil.

Level 1 — Core idea

Verbal: Water in a glass is matter; sunlight through the window is not.

Symbolic: Matter: solid, liquid, gas. Not matter (Class 3): light, heat as energy.

Visual: Table: tick stone, water, air; cross rainbow light beam alone.

Level 2 — Going deeper

Air is matter even though invisible — balloon test, wind moving leaves. Sound travels but is vibration, not matter itself.

NCERT anchor

NCERT Looking Around 3, Chapter 7 contrasts water (matter) with sunlight helping dry clothes (energy). Discuss with teacher.

Is light from a torch matter?

Step 1 — Light has no mass you can weigh alone
Step 2 — Cannot hold volume in a cup
Answer: **Not matter** (energy) at Class 3 level

Classify: stone, air, shadow, milk.

Step 1 — Stone: **matter** (solid)
Step 2 — Air: **matter** (gas)
Step 3 — Milk: **matter** (liquid)
Step 4 — Shadow: **not matter** (no mass)

• Is water matter? Why?
• Matter or not: sound from bell?
• Give one non-matter example.
• Stretch: Is smoke matter? What state?

Revision tip: Two-question test: Does it have mass? Does it take space? Both yes → matter.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Examples of Matter.