Science Sample
Matter can be described by using senses. These descriptions are also called properties. Let’s take a closer look at how you can use your senses to describe properties of matter. Click on each sense to find out more about how senses describe matter.
How could you use your sense of sight to describe
the properties of this basketball?
You can use your sense of sight to see the ball’s
shape, color, and size. This basketball is round,
orange, and small.
Your sense of touch can be used to describe properties like texture, temperature, and weight. This ice cube is cold, smooth, and light.
Hearing is the sense you use to tell if a sound is loud or soft, high-pitched or low-pitched. This bird makes a high-pitched soft sound when it chirps in the tree.
Our sense of taste gives us information about the flavor of matter. A taste can be salty, sour, sweet, spicy, or bitter. This cupcake is very sweet.
Do you smell that? It is a stinky skunk! Our nose allows us to smell matter. Smells can be fresh, strong, stinky, floral, or light. What other smells can you think of?
Question
What are the properties of a lemon?
Lemons are yellow, sour, and small. They smell fresh, and they can be smooth or a little bumpy on the outside. These are some of the properties of a lemon.