Physical and Working Properties
The two families of material property: physical properties like density and conductivity that describe a material in its natural state, and working properties like strength and toughness that describe how it behaves when it is worked.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
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What a material can do
A designer chooses a material by what it can do. These abilities are called properties. Some are physical properties, which describe the material in its natural state, and some are working properties, which describe how the material behaves when it is shaped, bent or loaded. This module explains both families and how to tell them apart.
Property words
Learn these four properties before you sort the rest.
Physical vs working
Properties split into two families. Knowing which is which is a common exam question.
A property is not a material
To reach the top grades, remember that a property is something a material does, not the material itself. If a question asks for a property, name one such as strength or hardness, never a material such as steel or oak. Learn each definition precisely, because several properties sound alike but mean different things.
Match the definition
- malleability
- ductility
- elasticity
- absorbency
- can be pressed or hammered into a shape
- can be drawn out into a thin wire
- returns to shape after being stretched
- soaks up moisture
Match the use
- electrical conductivity
- thermal conductivity
- fusibility
- strength
- used in the wires that carry electricity
- used in a pan base to spread heat
- lets a metal be melted and cast in a mould
- lets a shelf hold a heavy load without snapping
Which property is it?
Which property lets a metal be drawn out into a thin wire?
- Ductility.
- Hardness.
- Density.
- Absorbency.
Spot the working properties
Select the TWO properties that describe how a material behaves when it is worked.
- How easily it can be beaten into a new shape.
- How well it stands up to being dropped.
- How much water it soaks up.
- How easily it melts when heated.
Test a property
Put the steps of testing a material property in order, earliest first.
- Choose the property you want to test
- Prepare a fair sample of the material
- Apply the test, such as a load or a scratch
- Record and compare the result
Complete the facts
A material that can be drawn into a wire has good _____. A material that soaks up water has high _____. A material that springs back after bending has good _____. A metal that melts easily has high _____. A material that lets electricity flow has good electrical _____.
Work out the density
A block of material has a mass of 240 grams and a volume of 30 cubic centimetres. Density is the mass divided by the volume. What is the density in grams per cubic centimetre?
Find the working properties
Tap the TWO properties that describe how a material behaves when it is worked.
- malleability
- ductility
- density
- absorbency
Which property is needed?
Read what each designer needs and choose the property that matters most.
- A designer needs a metal that can be drawn into thin wires for a cable
- A designer needs a pan base that spreads heat quickly and evenly
- A designer needs a material that springs back to shape after being bent
Explain the properties
Explain the difference between a physical property and a working property. Give two examples of each and say what each example means.
- Explain what a physical property is
- Explain what a working property is
- Give two examples of each with their meaning