Materials and composites: including metals, ceramics and polymers | Science

Starter quiz

Everything around us is made of ______. These are the substances that objects are made from. They can be natural (e.g. wood and stone) or human–made (e.g. plastic and steel).
- 'materials' ✓
What do you call the features of a material that can be observed or measured?
- abilities
- behaviours
- characteristics
- conditions
- properties ✓
Match the following key words to their definition.
- application
  
  ⇔
  
  a way in which something can be used for a particular purpose ✓
- classification
  
  ⇔
  
  the process of sorting objects into groups ✓
- prediction
  
  ⇔
  
  a testable statement about a possible outcome of an experiment ✓
Which of the following materials can be transparent?
- card
- glass ✓
- plastic ✓
- wood
Match the following key words or phrases to their definition.
- brittle
  
  ⇔
  
  the ability to break or shatter easily when a force is applied ✓
- electrical conductor
  
  ⇔
  
  a substance that allows a flow of charge (electrical current) ✓
- malleable
  
  ⇔
  
  the ability to be formed into a shape ✓
- thermal conductor
  
  ⇔
  
  a substance that transfers energy by conduction ✓
- transparent
  
  ⇔
  
  the ability to let light pass through so you can see clearly through ✓
Scientific methods include observation, measurement, and manipulations (e.g. heating) to determine material properties. All these actions can be part of a scientific ...
- investigation. ✓
- theory.
- model.
- equation.

Exit quiz

Clay and sand both consist of silicates with different particle sizes. Ceramics made from clay are opaque, while glass made from sand is typically transparent. How do these different properties occur?
- atoms in glass are arranged differently to those in clay ceramics ✓
- ceramics and glass are made at very different temperatures
- ceramics are made from soft clay; glass is made from hard sand
- clay particles are larger than sand particles
If you couldn't see them, how would you distinguish between a metal, a ceramic, and a plastic vase of the same shape and size?
- By feeling their texture. ✓
- By tasting their surface.
- By noting the sound they make when tapped. ✓
- By measuring how quickly they heat up. ✓
- By smelling them.
Polymers are monomers joined together into long chains, sometimes with chemical connections between the chains. Poly(ester) and poly(propene) are polymers and specific examples of ______.
- 'plastics' ✓
Match the following key words to their definition.
- alloy
  
  ⇔
  
  a mixture of two or more elements; at least one element is a metal ✓
- ceramic
  
  ⇔
  
  a hard, brittle, heat-resistant material, often containing silica ✓
- composite
  
  ⇔
  
  made from at least two types of materials with improved properties ✓
- metal
  
  ⇔
  
  a shiny, hard material that is a good thermal and electrical conductor ✓
- polymer
  
  ⇔
  
  long chained molecules formed by joining together monomers ✓
Alloys and composites both have new properties compared to their components and can't be separated by simple methods. Steel is an example of an ______, as it is a mixture of iron and other elements.
- 'alloy' ✓
A practical method for scientists to determine the physical properties of materials is by conducting tests. How can you distinguish between plain and reinforced concrete if the pieces look similar?
- By stretching the concrete to see if it stretches significantly.
- By applying pressure to see if the concrete squashes or deforms easily. ✓
- By checking if the concrete cracks under stress.
- By observing if the concrete has a uniform texture.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Metals are good thermal and electrical conductors, they are strong, shiny, malleable and ductile.
Ceramics are made from soft substances, becoming hard and brittle when heated.
Plastics are made from polymers and there are many types of plastics with very different properties.
An alloy is a mixture of elements including at least one metal.
Composites combine materials to create a new material with improved properties.

Common misconception

The word material can be challenging, it has a different meaning in everyday life. Understanding that an alloy is a mixture and not a compound is hard because the elements are difficult to separate.

Provide lots of different examples of materials and use the word correctly within the scientific contexts. An alloy is the exception to the rule and is separated by thermal or chemical processes.

Keywords

Metal - A material that is shiny, hard and a good thermal and electrical conductor.
Ceramic - A material which is hard and brittle.
Polymer - Long chained molecules formed by joining together monomers.
Alloy - A mixture of two or more elements where at least one element is a metal.
Composite - A material made from two or more different types of materials. When combined they create a new material with improved properties.