Matter is all around us; it's what we and everything else are made of. Yet how do we define matter? What are the properties of matter that set it apart from something that is definitely not matter, such as light? In this session, participants build a working definition of matter, distinguish among the different forms it can take, investigate the difference between "essential" and "accidental" properties of matter, and look at the role of classification in science.

Originally released by Annenberg Learner, 2004. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 06, 2018.

Properties and Classifications of Matter: Introduction (2:44); --What is Matter? (14:49); -- Classification, Properties, and Elements (13:48); -- Solids, Liquids and Gases (17:38); -- What is Plasma? (6:51); -- Credits: What is Matter? Properties and Classification of Matter (2:08);.