What Are Physical Changes?

Physical changes are changes in the appearance or state of a substance, but not in its chemical composition. This means the substance remains the same, even though it might look different!

Types of Physical Changes

• Change of State: Solid ice melting into liquid water.
• Change of Shape: Bending a paper clip.
• Mixing: Stirring sugar into water (the sugar dissolves, but it's still sugar).

Recognizing Physical Changes

Signs of physical changes include:

• No new substance is formed.
• The change can often be reversed.

Real-Life Connections

Physical changes are happening all around you. Whether you're tearing paper, freezing juice into popsicles, or breaking a cookie in half, you're seeing physical changes in action!

Fun Fact

Did you know that when you inflate a balloon, you're just changing the shape and size of the balloon? The material stays the same!