Physical change — Science definition
A change in form or appearance where no new substance is created.
Where it is taught
- Physical vs. Chemical Properties — Properties of Matter, Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy, Grade 8
In use
A change like that — where no new substance appears — is a physical change, and it's often reversible.
Physical vs. Chemical Properties
Questions using physical change
Problem 1
Which is an example of a physical change?
- tearing paper
- burning paper
- a nail rusting
- baking a cake
Answer and explanation
tearing paper
Tearing paper changes its shape and size, but it's still the same paper — no new substance forms.
Problem 2
Explain why dissolving salt in water is a physical change, not a chemical change.
Answer and explanation
The salt doesn't become a new substance — it's still salt, just spread out among the water molecules. If you evaporated the water, you'd get the same salt back.