Final answer:
A physical change involves a change in physical properties without altering chemical composition, such as melting ice or sorting coins. In contrast, burning wood, which produces new substances, is not a physical change. Physical changes include state changes and dissolving substances without causing chemical reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A physical change is when a sample of matter changes its physical properties without altering its chemical composition. Examples of physical changes include melting an ice cube, evaporating water, and tearing a piece of paper. In each case, the matter's identity remains the same, meaning the molecules comprising the substances are unchanged. For instance, melting ice still leaves us with H₂O molecules; they've just transitioned from a solid state to a liquid state.
In contrast, a non-example of a physical change is the burning of wood. Burning wood causes a chemical reaction, resulting in new substances like carbon dioxide and water vapor, which differ chemically from the starting material.
Sorting a mixture of pennies and nickels or dissolving sugar in coffee are further examples of physical changes, as there are no chemical reactions taking place, and the substances involved retain their original properties.