Material Matters
Why is a saucepan metal but its handle plastic? Learn the four families of materials, how their properties differ, and how to pick the right one for any job.
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The right stuff 🧱
Why is a saucepan made of metal but its handle made of plastic? Because each material is chosen for its **properties**. Engineers compare materials and pick the best one for the job.
Four families 🔑
Most everyday materials fall into four groups:
Metal or plastic? ⚖️
Two very common materials behave very differently.
Good conductor 🎯
Which material is the best conductor of electricity?
- A metal such as copper
- A ceramic such as glass
- A polymer such as plastic
- None of them conduct
Match the property 🔗
- Ceramic
- Polymer
- Composite
- Metal
- Hard and brittle, and does not conduct
- Light, flexible and easily moulded
- Two materials combined for the best of both
- Strong, and conducts heat and electricity
Best of both 💡
A composite is made by combining two or more materials so it has the best properties of each. Fibreglass mixes glass fibres with plastic to be strong but light. Reinforced concrete adds steel bars to concrete so it can bend without cracking. Carbon fibre is strong and very light.
All about metals ✅
Which THREE properties describe most metals?
- Strong
- Conduct electricity
- Malleable, so they can be shaped
- Brittle and easily shattered
- Transparent like glass
Lightest first 🪜
An interactive activity.
Complete the idea 🧩
A _____ such as copper is strong and conducts electricity. A _____ such as plastic is light and acts as an insulator. A _____ such as glass is hard but _____. A _____ combines two materials to get the best of both.
True or not? 🖍️
An interactive activity.
The right use 🔀
- An electrical wire
- An oven dish
- A drinks bottle
- A light bike frame
- A metal, because it conducts electricity
- A ceramic, because it resists heat
- A polymer, because it is light and waterproof
- A composite, because it is strong but light
Pick the material 🧭
An interactive activity.
Choosing a material 📋
An interactive activity.
Compare two materials ✍️
An interactive activity.