NCERT Solutions for Class 9th Science

Chapter 1 MATTER IN OUR SURROUNDINGS

Q.1

Which of the following are matter?

Chair, air, love, smell, hate, almonds, thought, cold, cold drink, smell of perfume.

Ans

Anything that occupies space and has mass is called matter. It is made up of particles and exists
in three states solid, liquid and gas.
So the matter from the list given in question are:
Chair, Almonds

Matter in Solid state

Cold Drink

Matter in Liquid state

Air, Smell of Perfume

Q.2

Matter in Gaseous state

Give reasons for the following observation:

The smell of hot sizzling food reaches you several metres away, but to get the smell from cold
food you have to go close.

Ans

Particles of matter are continuously moving, i.e. they possess kinetic energy. As the temperature
rises, particles move faster due to increase in kinetic energy. This increases the rate of diffusion
and hence the smell of hot sizzling food reaches you several metres away, but to get the smell
from cold food you have to go close.

Q.3

A diver is able to cut through water in a swimming pool. Which property of matter does this
observation show ?

Ans

It shows that matter is made up of particles which have spaces between them. The particles of
water (bonded to each other through a force of attraction) got displaced as force applied by the
diver overcome these forces of attraction.

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Q.4

What are the characteristics of the particles of matter?

Ans

Characteristics of the particles of matter:

Q.5

Particles of matter have spaces between them.

Particles of matter are continuously moving.

Particles of mater attract each other.

The mass per unit volume of a substance is called density. (density = mass/volume).
Arrange the following in order of increasing density air, exhaust from chimneys, honey,
water, chalk, cotton and iron.

Ans

In order of increasing density :

Air < Exhaust from chimney < Cotton < Water < Honey < Chalk < Iron

Q.6

(a) Tabulate the differences in the characterisitcs of states of matter.

Ans
Characteristics
Shape and
Volume

Solid
Definite

Liquid

Gas

shape Definite volume but not shape.

and volume

Neither

definite

They take up the shape of shape nor volume

container in which they are kept

Compressibility

Negligible

A little

Highly
compressible

Rigidity

Rigid

Diffusion

Rate of diffusion Rate of diffusion is greater than Rate of diffusion

Space between

Less rigid than solid

is least

that of solid

Little

Space

particles
Force of

is greatest
particles

is

Maximum

greater than that of solid

Very Strong

attraction
Particles
Movement

between

Not rigid

cannot

move freely

Force of attraction

between Force of

particles is less than that of solid

attraction is least

Particles move freely

Particles are in a
continuous
random motion

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(b) Comment upon the following:

rigidity, compressibility, fluidity, filling a gas container, shape, kinetic energy and
density.
Ans

Rigidity It can be defined as the tendency of matter to resist the change in shape.
Compressibility - It is the ability to be reduced to a lower volume when force is applied.
Fluidity It is defined as the ability to flow.
Filling a gas container Attainment of shape of container by gas as its particles move in
all direction.
Shape It means a definite boundary.
Kinetic Energy Energy possessed due to movement or motion of particles.
Density It is defined as mass per unit volume i.e Density = Mass/Volume. Its S.I. unit is
Kg/m3

Q.7

Give reasons
(a) A gas fills completely the vessel in which it is kept.
(b) A gas exerts pressure on the walls of the container.
(c) A wooden table should be called a solid.
(d) We can easily move our hand in air but to do the same through a solid block of wood
we need a karate expert.

Ans

(a) The force of attraction between particles of gas is very small and thus they move freely in all
directions. Therefore, a gas fills completely the vessel in which it is kept.
(b) Gas particles move about randomly at high speed due to which they hit each other and also the
walls of the container. The pressure exerted by the gas is because of this force exerted by gas
particles per unit area on the walls of the container.
(c) A wooden table has a definite shape, distinct boundary and fixed volume i.e. negligible
compressibility which are the characteristics of solid. Hence, wooden table should be called a
solid.
(d) We can easily move our hand in air but not through a solid block of wood because the
particles of solid are closely spaced and have a very strong force of attraction between them.

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Q.8

Liquids generally have lower density as compared to solids. But you must have observed
that ice floats on water. Find out why.

Ans

Ice floats on water because its density is less than water due to the presence of a large vacant area
between ice particles which are filled with air.

Q.9

Convert the following temperature to celsius scale:

a. 300 K b. 573 K.

Ans

Thought Process :
Temperature in Celsius = Temperature in Kelvin - 273
(a) 300 K = 300 273 = 27C
(b) 573 K = 573 273 = 300C

Q.10

What is the physical state of water at:

a. 250C b. 100C ?

Ans

Thought Process :
Water boils at 100C.
(a) Water is in gaseous state.
(b) Water can be in liquid or gaseous form depending upon heat. When the heat is equal to the
latent heat of vaporization, water starts changing from liquid state to gaseous state.

Q.11

For any substance, why does the temperature remain constant during the change of state?

Ans

The temperature remain constant during the change of state because the heat supplied gets used
up in changing the state by overcoming the forces of attraction between the particles.

Q.12

Suggest a method to liquefy atmospheric gases.

Ans

Atmospheric gases can be liquefied by increasing pressure and reducing temperature.

Q.13

Why does a desert cooler cool better on a hot dry day?

Ans

Desert cooler works on the basis of evaporation. In hot and dry days the moisture level or
humidity is very low in atmosphere which increases the rate of evaporation and thus it works
better on a hot dry day.

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Q.14

How does the water kept in an earthen pot (matka) become cool during summer?

Ans

Water kept in an earthen pot (matka) becomes cool during summer due to continuous evaporation
from the porous surface of pot.

Q.15

Why does our palm feel cold when we put some acetone or petrol or perfume on it?

Ans

When we put some acetone or petrol or perfume on our palm, it evaporates and its particles gain
energy from our palm or surroundings to compensate for the loss of energy, making the
surroundings cool and causing the palm to feel cool.

Q.16

Why are we able to sip hot tea or milk faster from a saucer rather than a cup?

Ans

Saucer having larger surface area as compared to cup will have higher rate of evaporation and
hence faster cooling. Due to this we are able to sip hot tea or milk faster from a saucer rather than
a cup.

Q.17

What type of clothes should we wear in summer?

Ans

We should wear cotton clothes in summer because in summer we perspire a lot and cotton, being
a good absorber of water helps in absorbing the sweat and exposing it to the atmosphere for easy
evaporation. During this evaporation, particles on the surface of the liquid gain energy from our
body surface, making the body cool.

EXERCISES
Q.1

Convert the following temperatures to the celsius scale.

(a) 293 K (b) 470 K.

Ans

Thought Process:
Temperature in Celsius = Temperature in Kelvin 273
(a) 293 K = 293 273 = 20C
(b) 470 K = 470 273 = 197C

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Q.2

Convert the following temperatures to the Kelvin scale.

(a) 25C (b) 373C.

Ans

Thought Process:
Temperature in Kelvin = Temperature in Celsius + 273
(a) 25C = 25 + 273 = 298 K
(b) 373C = 373 + 273 = 646 K

Q.3

Give reason for the following observations.

(a) Naphthalene balls disappear with time without leaving any solid.
(b) We can get the smell of perfume sitting several metres away.

Ans

(a) Naphthalene balls disappear with time without leaving any solid because of sublimation in
which it directly gets converted into gas.
(b) Particles of gas possess high kinetic energy and large spaces between them. This increases the
rate of diffusion and hence we can get the smell of perfume sitting several meters away.

Q.4

Arrange the following substances in increasing order of forces of attraction between the
particles water, sugar, oxygen.

Ans

Oxygen < Water < Sugar

Q.5

What is the physical state of water at

(a) 25C (b) 0C (c) 100C?

Ans

Thought Process:
Water freezes at 0C and boils at 100C.
(a) Water is in liquid state.
(b) Water can be in solid or liquid form. When the heat is equal to the latent heat of fusion, ice
starts changing from solid to liquid state.
(c) Water can be in liquid or gaseous form depending upon heat. When the heat is equal to the
latent heat of vaporization, water starts changing from liquid state to gaseous state.

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Q.6

Give two reasons to justify

(a) water at room temperature is a liquid.
(b) an iron almirah is a solid at room temperature.

Ans

Thought Process:
Solid Definite shape and volume, Rigid, Negligible compressibility
Liquid Definite volume but not shape, flows.
(a) Water is liquid at room temperature as it has
1) definite volume but not shape and
2) It flows at room temperature
(b) An iron almirah is solid at room temperature as it has
1) Definite shape and volume and
2) It is rigid at room temperature.

Q.7

Why is ice at 273 K more effective in cooling than water at the same temperature?

Ans

Ice at 273 K or 0C can absorb a large amount of heat energy as latent heat of fusion to get
converted to water state. Therefore Ice at 273K is more effective in cooling.

Q.8

What produces more severe burns, boiling water or steam?

Ans

Steam produces more severe burns than boiling water because its particles possess extra energy as
latent heat of vaporisation.

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Q.9

Name A,B,C,D,E and F in the following diagram showing change in its state

Ans

A Fusion
B Vaporisation
C Condensation
D Solidification
E Sublimation
F Sublimation

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