Mon Prof Augmenté
Four families of materials
Age 12 · Technology
Open to everyone until Wednesday, November 18
To keep it, print it while it is open.
Every object is made from a material chosen for its properties, such as hardness, weight or resistance to water. Most everyday materials belong to four families: metals, plastics, wood and other natural materials, and ceramics and glass.
In the picture
- Metals: shiny, strong, carry heat and electricity well; steel sticks to a magnet
- Plastics: light, waterproof, easy to mould into any shape and colour
- Wood and cardboard: natural materials from trees, light and easy to cut
- Ceramics and glass: hard, resist heat, but break if dropped
Examples
- A saucepan has a metal body to carry heat and a plastic handle that stays cool.
- A jam jar is made of glass because it is see-through, waterproof and easy to wash.
Key takeaways
- A material is chosen for its properties, depending on what the object must do.
- Steel is attracted by a magnet, but aluminium and copper are not.
Quiz: Four families of materials (Age 12)
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Three spoons look alike: one is steel, one is aluminium and one is copper. Which one will stick to a magnet?
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When people design an object, what decides which material they use?
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A dish must go into a very hot oven. Which family of materials resists heat but can break if dropped?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This quiz is free there while the lesson is in the free week.
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