There are three primary states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
Solids are the lowest energy form of matter on Earth. Solids are generally tightly packed molecules that are held together in such a way that they can not change their position. The atoms in a solid can wiggle and jiggle (vibrate) but they can not move from one place to another. The typical characteristics that solids tend to have are that they keep their shape unless they are broken and they do not flow.
Liquids have loose, stringy bonds between molecules that hold molecules together but allow them some flexibility. Liquids will assume the shape of the container that holds it.
Gases have no bonds between the molecules. Gases can be squished (compressed), and pure gases all behave the same way. (We’re going to learn more about this with the Ideal Gas Law.)
Materials: can of soda or glass of water
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We actually don’t consider BEC to be a common state of matter because we have not observed it occurring naturally. It has only been generated in a lab. BEC isn’t really opposite of steam. Instead, it describes a state where matter is so cold that atoms interact very strangely.
Non-Newtonian fluids are still fluids. But they don’t follow Newton’s law of viscosity. In other words, they react differently than other fluids when force is applied. However, they still meet other criteria for fluids.
Is BEC considered common state of matter because it is the opposite of steam? Also, where does non-Newtonian fluids fit? Like gloop and slime? Why is this not a common one if it is found more in the earth than BEC?