Question

Which of the following is not a matter?
(A) Book
(B) Air
(C) Idea
(D) Cold drink

Answer 1

Hint: As per the question, to know which option is not a matter, we should go through the properties or the explanation of a matter, matter at least must contain some mass and some volume. It can be in any state.

Complete answer:
According to the definition of matter: Matter is defined as any substance that has mass and occupies space by having volume in classical physics and general chemistry. Everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately made up of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles, and "matter" refers to atoms and anything made up of them, as well as any particles (or combination of particles) that act as if they have both rest mass and volume, in both everyday and scientific usage. It does not, however, include massless particles like photons, as well as other energy phenomena or waves like light. There are many different states of matter (also known as phases). Other states, such as plasma, Bose–Einstein condensates, fermionic condensates, and quark–gluon plasma, are possible in addition to the classic everyday phases of solid, liquid, and gas – for example, water exists as ice, liquid water, and gaseous steam – but other states, such as plasma, Bose–Einstein condensates, fermionic condensates, and quark–gluon plasma, are also possible.
In option (A)Book: As we discussed above that matter must have mass and occupy it by having volume. So, books contain both mass and volume as well. Therefore, books are a matter.
In option (B)Air: Even if we can't see it, air takes up space, and air has weight, even if we can't feel it — and both of these attributes can be observed and measured. Therefore, air is also a matter.
In option (C)Idea: Idea is neither a living body nor a non-living. It is not even an object. It is just an abstraction. It doesn’t exist in our surroundings, that’s why it doesn’t contain mass or volume. Therefore, ideas do not matter. This is the correct option among all the four options.
Similarly to books and air, cold drinks are also a matter.
Hence, the correct option is (C) Idea.

Note:
Energy can be emitted by objects that have mass and are made of matter. A swinging pendulum, for example, is made out of matter, but its energy of motion is not. Even though a fire is made up of hot gases and plasma (matter), it produces light and heat (not matter). Time can be measured, but it has no mass and doesn't take up any space.