Teachers taught us the 3 states of matter, but there’s a 4th called plasma. Why weren’t we taught all 4 around the same time?

Question

Teachers taught us the 3 states of matter, but there’s a 4th called plasma. Why weren’t we taught all 4 around the same time?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

For the same reasons you don’t learn calculus in elementary school

Solid liquid gas are very common in basic science theory/education and have a broad application to many career paths…..plasma is abundant in the universe but not a common natural state of matter on earth

Understanding plasma requires more fundamental building blocks of science like electrons