Physical Changes

 Physical Changes

In a physical change, a substance undergoes changes only in its physical properties such as shape, size, colour and state, and no new substance is formed. First, we shall perform some activities to show the physical changes that are taking place all around us are:

Characteristics of Physical Changes
The physical changes are temporary changes which can be easily reversed to form the original substance. In such a change, no new substance is formed.
Thus, we noticed that the important characteristics of physical changes are as follows:

• No new substance is formed in this change.
• It is a temporary change and is generally reversible.
• A temporary change in colour may take place.
• Very little energy (heat, etc) is either absorbed or evolved.

Everyday Examples of Physical Changes With Water

The physical changes of water are easy to see at home, at work, or even in nature.

An ice cube melting into water in your drink

Freezing water to make ice cubes

Boiling water evaporating

Hot shower water turning to steam

Steam from the shower condensing on a mirror

Common Examples of Physical Changes in Your Kitchen

Your kitchen is one of the most common places you probably see physical changes happen on a regular basis.

• Crushing an empty milk carton
• Boiling pasta to make it soft
• Dissolving sugar in your coffee
• Shaking up a bottle of Italian dressing
• Freeze-drying fruits
• Thawing raw meat
• Chopping a vegetable into pieces
• Melting candy
• Dissolving a drink mix into water
• Adding milk to cereal
• Sharpening a knife
• Freezing juice into popsicles
• Adding food dye to white icing
• Coloring Easter eggs
• Mixing fruits in a fruit salad
• Letting gelatin set in the fridge

Typical of Physical Changes Outdoors

Natural elements like the sun and precipitation can alter the physical properties of natural and manmade objects. You might even cause some outdoor physical changes yourself.

• A plastic chair’s color fading
• Sanding wood
• Mixing dirt and water to make mud
• Icicles forming on the edge of your roof
• Mowing the lawn
• Bending wire
• Tying a rope in a knot
• Trimming a bush
• Evaporating puddles