Understanding the Basics of Matter in Our Surrounding
In science, matter exists
in different states: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. Here’s a quick guide
to help you understand these states and their properties:
1.
Gas Pressure: Gas
pressure happens because the particles of the gas are constantly moving and
bumping into the walls of their container.
2.
Spread of
Particles: In gases, the particles are the most spread out, unlike in solids
where they are packed closely together.
3.
Flow and Shape:
Liquids and gases can flow and take the shape of their container, a property
known as fluidity.
4.
Sponge
Compression: Sponges can be easily compressed because they have air pockets
inside that can be squeezed out.
5.
Closest Particles:
In solids, the particles are closest together, which is why solids have a fixed
shape and volume.
6.
Effect of
Temperature: When you heat something, it generally spreads out and moves
faster, speeding up the process of diffusion. Conversely, cooling a gas makes
its particles move slower and come closer together.
7.
Heating Liquids:
When a liquid is heated, it turns into gas because the particles gain energy
and move faster.
8.
Gas Flexibility:
Gases are unique because they can easily change shape and volume, adapting to
the container they are in.
This MCQ covers the
basics of how different states of matter behave and interact with changes in
temperature and pressure.
CBSE Class 9 Science Chapter-1: Matter in our surrounding MCQs
1. What is matter?
A) Only solids
B) Only liquids
C) Everything that has mass and occupies
space
D) Only gases
Answer: C) Everything that has mass and occupies space.
Explanation: Matter is defined as anything that has mass and takes up space. This includes solids, liquids, and gases.
2. What does the activity with dissolving salt in water demonstrate about matter?
A) Matter is continuous
B) Matter is made of particles
C) Matter cannot dissolve
D) Matter does not change volume
Answer: B) Matter is made of particles
Explanation: Dissolving salt in water shows
that salt particles spread throughout the water, indicating that matter is made
of particles that can mix and occupy the spaces between other particles.
3. Why does the smell of hot food reach you faster than the smell of cold food?
A) Hot food has more particles
B) The particles in hot food move faster
C) Cold food particles move faster
D) Smell is not affected by temperature
Explanation: The particles in hot food move
faster, which speeds up the diffusion of smell particles into the air, allowing
the smell to reach you more quickly.
4. What property of matter allows a diver to move through water?
A) Rigidity
B) Compressibility
C) Fluidity
D) Density
Answer: C) Fluidity
Explanation: Water is a fluid, which means it
can flow and change shape, allowing a diver to move through it easily.
5. What happens to the volume of a liquid when it is transferred to different containers?
A) It changes
B) It remains the same
C) It becomes gas
D) It increases
Answer: B) It remains the same
Explanation: Liquids have a fixed volume, so
transferring them to different containers does not change their volume,
although their shape does change to match the container.
6. Which state of matter has particles that are in constant, random motion and spread out to fill any container?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: Gas particles move randomly and
quickly, spreading out to fill any container they are in.
7. Which of the following states of matter can be compressed the most easily?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: Gases can be compressed easily
because their particles are far apart and move quickly, allowing them to be
pushed closer together.
8. What is diffusion?
A) The mixing of gases with solids
B) The spreading of particles from an area of
high concentration to an area of low concentration
C) The process of changing from liquid to
solid
D) The force exerted by matter
Answer: B) The spreading of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
Explanation: Diffusion is the process where particles spread from regions of high concentration to low concentration, leading to even distribution.
9. Which of the following best describes the particles in a solid?
A) They move randomly and quickly
B) They are tightly packed and vibrate in
place
C) They are spread out and move freely
D) They do not interact with each other
Answer: B) They are tightly packed and vibrate in place
Explanation: In solids, particles are closely
packed together and only vibrate in place, which gives solids their definite
shape and volume.
10. What does the activity with ink and honey in water show about the state of matter?
A) Solids diffuse faster than liquids
B) Liquids diffuse slower than gases
C) Gases diffuse slower than liquids
D) Solids and liquids have similar rates of
diffusion
Answer: B) Liquids diffuse slower than gases.
Explanation: The activity shows that liquids
(like ink and honey) diffuse slower than gases because particles in liquids are
less free to move compared to gases.
11. Which property allows a sponge to be compressed?
A) Rigidity
B) Density
C) Presence of air pockets
D) Fixed shape
Answer: C) Presence of air pockets
Explanation: A sponge can be compressed due to
the air pockets within it, which get squeezed out when pressure is applied.
12. When a gas is compressed, what happens to its volume?
A) It remains the same
B) It increases
C) It decreases
D) It becomes a liquid
Answer: C) It decreases
Explanation: Compressing a gas reduces its
volume because the particles are forced closer together.
13. Why do solids have a definite shape and volume?
A) The particles are free to move around
B) The particles are tightly packed and only
vibrate
C) The particles are loosely packed
D) The particles are in constant random motion
Answer: B) The particles are tightly packed and only vibrate
Explanation: In solids, particles are tightly
packed and only vibrate, which prevents the solid from changing shape or
volume.
14. What happens when you try to compress a liquid?
A) Its volume decreases significantly
B) Its volume remains nearly the same
C) It turns into a gas
D) It evaporates
Answer: B) Its volume remains nearly the same
Explanation: Liquids are not easily
compressible, so their volume stays nearly the same when pressure is applied.
15. What is observed when a solid like sugar dissolves in water?
A) The solid remains visible
B) The solid disappears completely from
sight
C) The solid forms a separate layer
D) The solid mixes into the water, indicating
particles in matter
Answer: D) The solid mixes into the water, indicating particles in matter
Explanation: When sugar dissolves, it mixes into the water, showing that sugar particles fit into the spaces between water particles.
16. What causes the particles in gases to exert pressure on the walls of their container?
A) The particles are tightly packed
B) The particles move randomly and collide
with the walls
C) The particles are in a fixed position
D) The particles are not in motion
Answer: B) The particles move randomly and collide with the walls
Explanation: In gases, particles move randomly
and collide with the walls of their container, which causes the pressure.
17. In which state of matter do particles have the highest kinetic energy?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: In gases, particles have the
highest kinetic energy due to their fast and random movement.
18. Which of the following can diffuse through
a liquid the fastest?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: Gases diffuse the fastest because
their particles move quickly and are spread out more than those in solids or
liquids.
19. What happens to the smell of a perfume when you spray it in a room?
A) It stays concentrated in one spot
B) It spreads quickly throughout the room
C) It does not spread at all
D) It turns into a liquid
Answer: B) It spreads quickly throughout the room
Explanation: The particles of the perfume
spread quickly throughout the room due to diffusion, making the smell
detectable from a distance.
20. Which of the following states of matter does NOT have a fixed shape?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) All of the above
Answer: B) Liquid
Explanation: Liquids do not have a fixed
shape; they take the shape of their container, but they have a fixed volume.
21. When a crystal of potassium permanganate is added to water, why does the colour spread even after several dilutions?
A) The particles are very large
B) The particles are very small and spread
throughout
C) The colour is not affected by dilution
D) The particles settle at the bottom
Answer: B) The particles are very small and spread throughout
Explanation: The small particles of potassium
permanganate spread throughout the water even after multiple dilutions, showing
that the particles are tiny and distributed widely.
22. What is the main reason for gases having low density compared to liquids and solids?
A) Gases have a higher mass
B) Gases have particles that are far
apart
C) Gases are denser than liquids
D) Gases do not move
Answer: B) Gases have particles that are far apart.
Explanation: In gases, particles are much
farther apart compared to those in liquids and solids, which results in a lower
density.
23. Why can’t you easily compress a liquid like you can with a gas?
A) Liquids are too dense
B) Liquids have particles that are already
close together
C) Liquids do not flow
D) Liquids have no particles
Answer: B) Liquids have particles that are already close together
Explanation: The particles in liquids are
already close together, so they do not compress easily, unlike gases where
particles are more spread out.
24. What does the term "kinetic energy" refer to in the context of matter?
A) The energy due to an object's position
B) The energy due to the random movement of
particles
C) The energy required to change state
D) The energy stored in bonds
Answer: B) The energy due to the random movement of particles
Explanation: Kinetic energy in matter refers to the energy associated
with the random movement of particles.
25. Which state of matter can be easily compressed and transported in cylinders?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: Gases can be compressed into
cylinders because their particles are far apart, making them more compressible
than solids or liquids.
26. What happens to the rate of diffusion when the temperature increases?
A) The rate decreases
B) The rate remains the same
C) The rate increases
D) Diffusion stops
Answer: C) The rate increases
Explanation: Higher temperatures increase the
kinetic energy of particles, which speeds up the rate of diffusion.
27. What is the main reason that solids have a
definite shape?
A) The particles move freely
B) The particles are tightly packed and fixed
in place
C) The particles have high kinetic energy
D) The particles are not in contact with each
other
Answer: B) The particles are tightly packed and fixed in place
Explanation: Solids have a definite shape
because their particles are tightly packed and fixed in place, preventing them
from changing shape.
28. In which state of matter do particles have the least kinetic energy?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: A) Solid
Explanation: In solids, particles have the
least kinetic energy because they vibrate in fixed positions rather than moving
freely.
29. Which state of matter flows and takes the shape of its container?
A)
Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: B) Liquid
Explanation: Liquids flow and take the shape
of their container, but they maintain a fixed volume.
30: What does the term "diffusion" refer to in relation to gases?
A) The mixing of gases with solids
B) The spreading of gas particles throughout a
space
C) The change of a gas into a liquid
D) The separation of gases from each other
Answer: B) The spreading of gas particles throughout a space
Explanation: Diffusion is the process by which gas particles spread out and mix with other gases.
31. What happens when a solid is heated?
A) It melts instantly
B) Its particles move less
C) Its particles gain more kinetic energy
D) It becomes a gas immediately
Answer: C) Its particles gain more kinetic energy
Explanation: Heating a solid increases the
kinetic energy of its particles, causing them to vibrate more and potentially
change state.
32. What is an example of a substance that has a definite volume but no definite shape?
A) Ice
B) Water
C) Iron
D) Sand
Answer: B) Water
Explanation: Water has a definite volume but
no definite shape; it takes the shape of its container.
33. Why can gases be compressed into small volumes?
A) The particles are close together
B) The particles are very large
C) The particles move quickly and are far
apart
D) The particles are fixed in place
Answer: C) The particles move quickly and are far apart
Explanation: Gases can be compressed because their particles are far apart and move quickly, allowing them to be squeezed into smaller volumes.
34. Which state of matter cannot be compressed easily?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: B) Liquid
Explanation: Liquids cannot be easily
compressed because their particles are already close together.
35. When sugar is dissolved in water, what happens to the sugar particles?
A) They form a separate layer
B) They stay visible
C) They spread throughout the water
D) They turn into gas
Answer: C) They spread throughout the water
Explanation: Dissolved sugar particles spread
evenly throughout the water, showing the mixing of particles.
36. Which of the following states of matter has particles that are in constant random motion?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: In gases, particles are in
constant random motion, which contributes to their ability to fill any
container.
37. What does the term "compressibility" refer to?
A) The ability to change state
B) The ability to dissolve in liquids
C) The ability of a substance to be squeezed
into a smaller volume
D) The ability to maintain shape
Answer: C) The ability of a substance to be squeezed into a smaller volume
Explanation: Compressibility refers to how
much a substance can be squeezed into a smaller volume.
38. How do particles in a liquid move compared to those in a solid?
A) They move more freely in a liquid
B) They move less freely in a liquid
C) They move in the same way
D) They are fixed in place in a liquid
Answer: A) They move more freely in a liquid
Explanation: Particles in a liquid move more
freely than those in a solid, which allows liquids to flow and change shape.
39. What is observed when a drop of ink is added to water?
A) The ink stays in one spot
B) The ink spreads throughout the water
C) The ink turns into a solid
D) The water changes colour instantly
Answer: B) The ink spreads throughout the water
Explanation: The ink spreads throughout the
water due to diffusion, where particles move from an area of high concentration
to low concentration.
40. Why does heating a gas increase its pressure?
A) The gas particles move slower
B) The gas particles move faster and collide
more with the container walls
C) The gas particles get further apart
D) The gas particles dissolve in the container
Answer: B) The gas particles move faster and collide more with the container walls
Explanation: Heating a gas increases the speed
of its particles, causing them to collide more with the container walls and
thus increasing pressure.
41. What is an example of a substance that can exist in all three states of matter?
A) Water
B) Iron
C) Carbon
D) Helium
Answer: A) Water
Explanation: Water can exist as a solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam), depending on the temperature.
42. What causes the pressure exerted by a gas
in a container?
A) The particles sticking to the container
walls
B) The movement of particles colliding with
the container walls
C) The temperature of the gas
D) The density of the gas
Answer: B) The movement of particles colliding with the container walls
Explanation: Gas pressure is caused by the collisions of gas particles with the walls of their container.
43. Which state of matter has particles that are most spread out?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: In gases, particles are the most
spread out compared to solids and liquids.
44. What property of matter is demonstrated by the ability to flow and take the shape of its container?
A) Solubility
B) Compressibility
C) Fluidity
D) Density
Answer: C) Fluidity
Explanation: Fluidity is the property that
allows a substance to flow and take the shape of its container, characteristic
of liquids and gases.
45. Why does a sponge compress easily?
A) The sponge is made of liquid
B) The sponge contains air pockets
C) The sponge is a gas
D) The sponge is very dense
Answer: B) The sponge contains air pockets
Explanation: The air pockets in a sponge allow
it to be compressed as the air is pushed out when pressure is applied.
46. Which state of matter has particles that are closest together?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: A) Solid
Explanation: In solids, particles are closest
together, giving solids their fixed shape and volume.
47. What is the effect of increasing the temperature on the diffusion rate of a substance?
A) The diffusion rate decreases
B) The diffusion rate stays the same
C) The diffusion rate increases
D) Diffusion stops
Answer: C) The diffusion rate increases
Explanation: Increasing temperature increases
the kinetic energy of particles, which speeds up the diffusion process.
48. When a gas is cooled, what happens to its particles?
A) They move faster
B) They move slower and get closer
together
C) They stay the same
D) They become more spread out
Answer: B) They move slower and get closer together
Explanation: Cooling a gas slows down its
particles and causes them to move closer together.
49. What do we observe when a liquid is heated?
A) The liquid freezes
B) The liquid turns into gas
C) The liquid's particles slow down
D) The liquid remains unchanged
Answer: B) The liquid turns into gas
Explanation: Heating a liquid increases the
kinetic energy of its particles, which can cause it to evaporate into a gas.
50. Which state of matter has particles that can easily change shape and volume?
A) Solid
B) Liquid
C) Gas
D) Plasma
Answer: C) Gas
Explanation: Gases can change both shape and
volume easily due to the high movement and spread of their particles.