Daily Life Examples of Physical Changes

Physical changes are when things change how they look or feel but don’t turn into something new. For example, if you mix different things together without making something completely different, that’s a physical change. So, when things change in size, shape, or color, but they’re still the same stuff, it’s called a physical change.

Physical Changes

• No new substance is created.
• Involves a change in state (solid to liquid, etc.).
• Size or shape can alter without changing the material.
• Many physical changes are reversible.
• Typically, no significant change in energy.
• Mixing without a chemical reaction occurs.
• Individual components can be separated.
• No formation of settling solids (precipitates).
• Observable changes in appearance may happen.

Examples of Physical Changes

• Melting ice into water.
• Boiling water turning into steam.
• Flattening a soda can.
• Cutting paper into smaller pieces.
• Dissolving salt in water.
• Freezing liquid juice into popsicles.
• Tearing a sheet of paper.
• Bending a spoon.
• Breaking a pencil.
• Mixing different colored paints.