Properties of Materials

Properties of Materials

8.2

Properties of Materials

Materials have various properties, such as:

Ability to absorb water
Ability to float on the surface of water
The elasticity of the material
Electrical conductors and insulators
Heat conductors and insulators
Ability to allow light to pass through

Ability to absorb water

Water-absorbent materials become wet when exposed to water. Water will be absorbed by the water-absorbing material when water is dropped on it.
Materials that do not absorb water are called waterproof materials. Water will remain on the waterproof material when water is dripped on it.

Absorb water	Waterproof
Cotton Paper/tissue Sponge	Metal Rubber Plastic Rock Leather goods

Ability to float on the surface of water

There are materials that can float on the surface of the water and sink in water.

Floating on the water	Sink in water
Pencil (wood) Ice cream sticks (wood) Ruler (plastic) Straw (plastik)	Marble (glass) Key (metal) Eraser (rubber) Rock (soil)

The elasticity of the material

The ability of a material to return to its original state after being pulled, squeezed or stretched

Elastic material	Non-elastic material
Rubber (balloons, rubber bands) Spring	Wood (ice cream sticks, pencils) Metal (nails) Plastic (spoon, straw) Glass

Electrical conductors and insulators

Electrical conductor is a material that can conduct an electric current.
Electrical insulator is a material that cannot conduct electricity.

Electrical conductor	Electrical insulator
Metal	Wood Plastic Glass Leather

Heat conductors and insulators

Heat conductor is a material that allows heat to flow through it well and quickly.
Heat insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it well.

Heat conductor	Heat insulator
Metal	Plastic Rubber Glass

Ability to allow light to pass through

A transparent material is a material that allows light to pass through it
A translucent material is a material that allows some light to pass through it
An opaque material is a material that blocks light through it

Transparent	Translucent	Opaque
Glass Clear plastic	Foggy glass Gauze Tracing paper Colored plastic	Wood Metal Some plastic

Applications of properties of materials

Knowledge of the properties of a material is important in creating an object
Choosing a suitable type of material will ensure proper functioning of the created objects
Steps in creating a model by applying knowledge of the properties of materials:

Identifying the problems
Generating the ideas
Sketching of the idea
Preparing the apparatus and materials
Building the model