MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: So how many States Of Matter are there really?

Date: Thu Jul 24 07:08:10 2008
Posted by Thomas
Grade level: 10-12 School: Bexley Grammar School
City: London State/Province: No state entered. Country: England
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1216908490.Ph
Message:

I have already submitted this question, and recieved possible suggestions, but 
unfortunately have received nothing that answers my question, so I will ask it 
again, many thanks again, below is my question.
Of course we all learn that there are 3: solid, liquid and gas. Perhaps we 
might mention plasma as 'the fourth' state, but it has always been questioned 
and in my field of school very rarely discussed. Even bose-einstein 
condensates are mentioned now and again, but as far as what we are led to 
believe, there are three, and that is that. Then why do I see Quantum Hall 
state; Quantum spin Hall state; Bose-Einstein condensate; Fermionic 
condensate; Superfluid; Supersolid; Solid; Amorphous solid; Amorphous glassy 
solid; Amorphous rubbery solid; Crystalline solid; Plastic crystal; String-net 
liquid; Liquid; Liquid crystal; Gas; Supercritical fluid; Plasma; Degenerate 
matter; Electron-degenerate matter; Neutron-degenerate matter; Strange matter; 
Quark-gluon plasma; Weakly symmetric matter; Strongly symmetric matter. Are 
all of these just...made up? Please explain. Thanks a lot!



Re: So how many States Of Matter are there really?

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