However, if a piece of wood is chopped up into smaller pieces, it undergoes a physical change. In contrast, a physical change isn’t! Learn more about chemical change.įor example, when wood burns, it undergoes a chemical change and turns into a different substance, ash, which has different atoms and molecules from the original wood. A chemical change is a change in the chemical composition of the matter. Physical changes differ from chemical changes or chemical reactions, which occur when the substances are changed into one or more new substances. It helps us understand how matter behaves and how to manipulate it. Understanding physical changes is important for many fields, such as physics, engineering, and materials science. Tearing paper: The paper is still made of the same atoms and molecules, but its size and shape have changed.įreezing water: When water freezes, its appearance changes from a liquid to a solid, but its chemical composition remains the same.ĭissolving sugar in water: The sugar and water are still made of the same atoms and molecules, but their appearance has changed. But there is a change in the appearance or physical properties of the substance.Ĭrushing an aluminum can: The aluminum can is still made of the same atoms and molecules, but its size has changed.

Other words, the atoms and molecules that make up the matter stay the same no new substance is formed. Physical changes are changes that occur in matter without changing its chemical composition. Physical Changes That Look Like Chemical Reactions.Grab this FREE Physical Change Info pack to get started!.

5 examples of physical changes