Matter
Definition
The quantity of matter which a body contains, as measured by its acceleration under a given force or by the force exerted on it by a gravitational field.
Description
Occupies space and possesses mass; may exist as solid, liquid, gas or plasma. For simplicity, two other aspects of matter will be discussed in separate sections. The first being all life, since this is a complicated subject and full of unknown variables, matter explained in this section will not comprise of living matter. The second section is on Energy, and although matter and energy are interchangeably linked, physical matter, in terms of what human stimuli can feel and hear, will mostly be discussed in this section.
Composition
Categories of Matter
1. Pure substance
‘Chemical methods of separation include electrolysis.’
2. Mixture
‘Physical methods of separation include filtration, distillation, and crystallisation.’
Why do we need to comprehend Matter?
All things in the universe are comprised of matter, including ourselves. To fully utilise the body we inhabit as well as interact physically with the medium we exert our bodies against, knowing what matter is, how it is formed and how we interact with it will give us a true justification for the choices we make when dealing with matter.
Why do we need to comprehend Matter?
Matter is not just what we and the world are made from, but also includes the things we require to survive, including what our bodies need to consume physically, as well as the things we need to interact with on a day to day basis to meet all of our other human needs.
So, by understanding all of the different types of matter needed for our survival and ways of utilizing the matter in a useful and efficient manner, we can not only learn how to survive, as humans, but also to thrive, alongside all other life, and live prosperous lives.
We must also consider using these materials wisely as they are finite and sometimes require a high amount of energy to extract, process and then refine the matter into a usable substance.
All other things such as energy conservation alongside life preservation, are of vital importance, but will not be in this section, and instead discussed in those specific subject fields, namely Life and Energy.