An added issue, do you really want to go with just 3,4, or 5 states of matter? Not everything fits perfectly into one of these categories, does it? Gels, non-newtonian fluids, amorphous solids all seem to be tweeners. They certainly can all be categorized, but at some point it seems like we are getting into biological like classifications. I wonder if it really matters which category each of these fall into.
Paul Lulai
Physics Teacher
St Anthony Village S.H.
3303 33rd Ave NE
St Anthony Village, MN 55418
-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Peter Schoch
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 6:34 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: [Phys-l] States of matter?
I find myself in the middle of a heated debate by our Chemists. Several of them gives the states of matter as: solid liquid, gas, plasma. The opposing group vehemently objects to the inclusion of plasma as a state of matter, as they claim it is just a special case of gases.
Why they think that I, as a physicist, would be a great arbiter of this is a mystery to me. After a bit of research I am leaning toward the traditional "solid, liquid, gas" argument; however, before sticking my head in the lion's mouth I thought I would solicit opinions here.