What is Matter?
Generally, matter is anything that has mass and takes up space (volume).
* Mass: A measure of how much stuff is in something.
* Volume: How much space something occupies.
Things You Can See:
* Solid objects: Definitely matter. They have mass and volume.
* Liquids: Also matter. They have mass and take up space, even though they flow.
* Gases: Matter too. They have mass and volume, but are less dense and can be compressed.
* Light: This is a bit trickier. Light has energy, but it doesn't have mass in the traditional sense. It travels as waves, not particles, so it doesn't have a fixed volume either.
* Plasma: A state of matter where electrons are stripped from atoms. It has mass and takes up space, but behaves differently from solids, liquids, and gases.
The Catch:
The definition of "matter" can be debated in the context of physics and philosophy. For example, some physicists might argue that light, while not "matter" in the traditional sense, still has mass-energy equivalence.
So, the answer is: Most things you can see fit the definition of matter. However, things like light and certain subatomic particles require a more nuanced understanding of what constitutes "matter."