Physical Change Definition
A physical change involves no new substance. For example, boiling water changes state but remains water.
View Lesson on Chemical vs. Physical ChangesIf you are on a school computer or network, ask your tech person to whitelist these URLs:
*.wistia.com, fast.wistia.com, fast.wistia.net, embedwistia-a.akamaihd.net
Sometimes a simple refresh solves this issue. If you need further help, contact us.
Chemical vs. Physical Changes
Fun Facts
- Combining milk and cereal for breakfast is a physical change.
- Mixing Mentos with soda is a physical change because no new substance is made.
- It is usually easy to reverse a physical change, like dissolving sugar in water then evaporating the water to leave the sugar crystals behind.
Why Do We Need To Know About Physical Change
Learning about physical changes helps us know why different materials act the way they do and why changing them is important for lots of jobs. For example, knowing how a metal like Gallium can melt and solidify without turning into a different substance helps in making things from everyday items to high-tech gadgets.
This knowledge isn’t just for scientists but for everyone. When you whip egg whites to make them fluffy for cooking, that’s a physical change. Also, in things like cleaning water or designing eco-friendly projects, using physical changes is key. Understanding physical changes is useful for many reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
- Algae Definition
- Batteries Definition
- Biomimicry Definition
- Chemical Change Definition
- Chromosome Definition
- Conduction Definition
- Definition Of Experiment
- Definition Of Human Body Systems
- Digestive System Definition
- Earth’s Orbit Definition
- Engineering Definition
- Evaporation Definition
- Exoskeleton Definition
- Fossil Record Definition
- Frequency Definition
- Friction Definition
- Genetic Factors Definition
- Hydrosphere Definition
- Igneous Rock Definition
- Kinetic Energy Definition
- Landform Definition
- Lever Definition
- Light Definition
- Liquid Definition
- Magnetic Field Definition
- Magnetism Definition
- Molecule Definition
- Mutualism Definition
- Newton’s 3rd Law Of Motion Definition
- Ocean Current Definition
- Orbit Definition
- Organ Definition
- Pendulum Definition
- Phases Of The Moon Definition
- Physical Change Definition
- Pollen Definition
- Potential Energy Definition
- Precipitation Definition
- Rain Definition
- Reflecting Surface Definition
- Seed Dispersal Definition
- Smelling Definition
- Soil Erosion Definition
- Taxonomy Definition
- Temperature Definition
- Trace Fossil Definition
- Wavelength Definition
- Wind Erosion Definition
Select Grade
Select Subject
Skip, I will use a 3 day free trial
Enjoy your free 30 days trial