Page 20 - ICSE Science 3 : E-book

Characteristics of Non-living Things

Non-living things are diff erent from living things in the following

ways.
• Non-living things do not need food and water to live.

• Non-living things do not breathe.

• Non-living things do not move
on their own. They need to be
pushed or pulled to move.

• Non-living things do not grow.

• Non-living things do not reproduce.

• Non-living things do not respond to the changes in the surroundings because
they do not feel.

• Non-living things do not excrete waste products.

Diff erences between Living and Non-living Things

Following table explains the diff erences between living and non-living things
based on the characteristics or features they have.

Living Things Non-living Things

1. Need food for energy to live and grow 1. Do not need food to live and grow
2. Need air to breathe 2. Do not breathe air

3. Show movement on their own 3. Do not move on their own
4. Grow old with time and die 4. Do not grow at all

5. Have the ability to reproduce 5. Do not have the ability to reproduce
6. Feel and respond to changes that 6. Do not respond to the changes that
occur in the surroundings occur in the surroundings

7. Excrete (give out) wastes from their 7. Do not excrete wastes
body Examples of Non-living Things: Rocks,
Examples of Living Things : Plants, animals mountains, books, table and so on

and humans

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