physical changes
Matter state shifts
Physical changes alter a substance's form or appearance without changing its chemical composition.
Ice melting into water, paper being torn, or sugar dissolving are physical changes—the molecules remain the same even as shape, size, or state shifts.
The term contrasts with chemical changes, where new substances form: Rusting is a chemical change, but crushing a can is physical.
- ice meltingFrozen water liquefying
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
- bendingCurving from straight
- freezingExtremely cold
- breakingComing apart suddenly
condensation · deposition · phase transition · shrinking · crumbling · erosion · sublimation · evaporation · state · thermal expansion · expanding · phase · state of matter · weathering · swelling · softening · alteration · transformation
- pubertypuberty, voice cracking, adolescence, growth spurts, body hair
- transformationmetamorphosis, morphing, shape-shifting, shapeshifting, transmutation
- body imagebody image, body positivity, body acceptance, body shaming, body shame
physical changeschemical changes
Molecular rearrangements forming new substances
chemical reactions · nuclear reactions · biochemical reactions · combustion · oxidation
change, exchange, physical, physics, changes, physician, physically, physicist, nonphysical