Physical Change Definition
A physical change involves no new substance. For example, boiling water changes state but remains water.
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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
Check out the Full Lesson on Chemical vs. Physical Changes
In this lesson, we learn that:
- In a chemical change we form an entirely new substance.
- In a physical change, we don't form a new substance.
- Physical changes also occur when matter changes states.
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