Properties of materials

Hardness, transparency, conductivity, solubility, and magnetism of everyday materials

Name:

Date:

Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Match each property to its definition. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Hardness, Transparency, Conductivity, Solubility Right: Resistance to being scratched, Allows light to pass through, Allows heat or electricity to flow, Ability to dissolve in a liquid
Answer:
2
Which material would be best for making a saucepan handle? A) Wood B) Copper C) Aluminium D) Steel
Answer:
3
True or false? All metals are magnetic. A) True B) False
Answer:
4
Which property makes glass suitable for windows? A) Transparency B) Conductivity C) Flexibility D) Magnetism
Answer:
5
Arrange these materials from softest to hardest. Put these in order: Diamond, Chalk, Glass, Fingernail
Answer:
6
Match each material to its most useful property. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Rubber (tyres), Copper (wires), Rock wool (loft insulation), Steel (bridge beams) Right: Flexible and waterproof, Good electrical conductor, Poor thermal conductor, Very strong and hard
Answer:
7
True or false? A thermal insulator is a material that lets heat pass through easily. A) True B) False
Answer:
8
A new material dissolves in water, conducts electricity, and is transparent. Which object could it NOT be used for? A) An outdoor water pipe B) A light bulb filament C) A window pane in a dry room D) An electrical connector indoors
Answer:
9
A scientist tests four materials for making a boat hull. Material A is waterproof but dissolves in salt water. Material B is waterproof, strong, and insoluble. Material C is light but absorbs water. Material D is strong but transparent. Which is best? A) Material B B) Material A C) Material C D) Material D
Answer:
10
True or false? All metals are magnetic. A) True B) False
Answer:

Answer key

Properties of materials · for parents and teachers

1
Hardness → Resistance to being scratched; Transparency → Allows light to pass through; Conductivity → Allows heat or electricity to flow; Solubility → Ability to dissolve in a liquid
Materials have measurable properties. Hardness is resistance to scratching, transparency lets light through, conductivity lets heat or electricity pass, and solubility means it dissolves.
2
Wood
Wood is a thermal insulator - it does not conduct heat well. Metal handles would get too hot to touch when cooking.
3
False
Only some metals are magnetic - mainly iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt. Many metals like aluminium, copper, and gold are not magnetic.
4
Transparency
Glass is transparent - it allows light to pass through so we can see outside. This is the key property that makes it ideal for windows.
5
Chalk, Fingernail, Glass, Diamond
Chalk is very soft (crumbles easily), fingernail is slightly harder, glass is much harder but can be scratched by diamond, which is the hardest natural material.
6
Rubber (tyres) → Flexible and waterproof; Copper (wires) → Good electrical conductor; Rock wool (loft insulation) → Poor thermal conductor; Steel (bridge beams) → Very strong and hard
Materials are chosen for objects based on their properties. The right property for the right job makes the object work well and last.
7
False
A thermal insulator is the opposite - it prevents heat from passing through easily. Materials like wool and polystyrene are good insulators.
8
An outdoor water pipe
A soluble material would dissolve when exposed to rain or water, making it useless for outdoor water pipes. The other uses keep it dry.
9
Material B
Material B is best because it is waterproof (keeps water out), strong (withstands waves), and insoluble (will not dissolve in sea water). The others all have a critical flaw.
10
False
False. Aluminium, gold, silver and copper are all metals but are not magnetic.