G3- Water in its Various states-600-700L_03

Ice is an example of water in its solid state. Solids have a definite shape. Solids also have rigid structures. This simply means it does not change shape. Think of an ice cube. Its shape is fixed. An ice cube, frozen water, will not change shape until it is melted and turns into a liquid. Water in the ocean is an example of liquid water. Liquids do not have a definite shape. Unlike frozen water, liquid water can change shape depending on the type of container it is in.

Try it yourself. Find three glasses that have different shapes. Pour equal amounts of liquid water into each glass.

What do you predict will happen as the water is poured into the different shaped glasses? Can you think of a gas that is filling the room you are in right now?

Correct! The air you breathe to keep you alive is a gas. Gases are another state of matter. Gases do not have a definite shape but will expand to fill the area they are in.

Just like air, water too can be a gas. Scientists call this state water vapor. Like air, you cannot see water vapor because it is invisible. Water vapor mixes with the air you breathe. Some days, the air holds a lot of water vapor. When there is a lot of water vapor in the air, the humidity is high. On other days, the air may hold less water vapor, and the humidity will be lower. Humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.