A property of matter is a characteristic specific to a substance or group of substances.
Shape is how matter appears or the way a substance occupies space (cube, pyramid, sphere, etc.).
Water is a liquid that takes the shape of a glass.
This rock is shaped like a cube.
Size is the height, width and length of a living being or object.
The Eiffel Tower is 324 metres high and 124.90 metres wide.
Absorption is the act of absorbing. In other words, it is a substance’s ability to retain another substance.
A sponge absorbs water.
If a substance is permeable, it can be penetrated by another substance.
Concrete is permeable because it allows water to pass through it.
If a substance is impermeable, it will not let other substances through.
A raincoat keeps water out and keeps a person dry.
If a substance is transparent, it allows light to pass through so a person can see clearly through that substance.
The opposite of transparency is opacity.
The glass in a window is transparent; it is possible to see through it. A window frame is opaque and does not let light through.
This glass is partially transparent, or translucent; it is impossible to see clearly through it.
Buoyancy is the ability to float on the surface of a liquid, and it depends on the density of the substances in question.
A boat floats on water.
Oil has a lower density than water, so it floats on the water’s surface.
