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Material Strength Inquiry Worksheet

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Material Strength Inquiry Worksheet

The school radio station needs a sign that will stay up during a breezy broadcast. Investigate how materials respond to forces. Use classroom-safe objects only; do not test glass or put heavy loads above your feet.

Plan the investigation

Oliver and Mei will compare how much weight strips of paper and cardboard can hold before bending. They cut strips to the same length and width, rest each across two identical blocks with the same gap, then add one paper clip at a time to a cup hanging from the middle. They record the number of clips when each strip bends noticeably. What should they keep the same to make this a fair test?

1.In Oliver and Mei’s test, what is the variable they change?

The material of the strip
The number of paper clips added
The gap between the blocks
The strip’s width

2.Name two things the pair should keep the same for a fair test.

3.Predict which material, paper or cardboard, will hold more clips before bending. Give a reason for your prediction.

Forces and material properties

A force can change a material’s shape. Pulling is stretching; pushing inward is compressing; applying a force that curves something is bending. Materials may spring back, stay changed, or break.

4.Mei gently curves a plastic ruler and lets go. Which property is she investigating?

Bending and springing back
Dissolving
Absorbing water
Magnetism

5.Match each action to the force: pull both ends of a rubber band; press down on a sponge; curve a pipe cleaner.

Pull both ends of a rubber band
Press down on a sponge
Curve a pipe cleaner

Compressing
Stretching
Bending

6.True or false: A brittle material can bend a long way without breaking.

TrueFalse

7.Fill in the blank: A material that changes shape when squeezed is being .

8.Fill in the blank: A material that returns to its original shape after a force is removed is .

Read the results

Hamish tested identical strips using the same setup. Here are the results:

Material

Paper

Cardboard

Foil folded into a strip

Clips held before bending

9.Which material held the most clips? How many more clips did it hold than paper?

10.Why is it useful to repeat a material test and compare results?

11.Recommend a material for the radio-station sign’s support. Use the results and one property of the material to justify your choice.

Draw and label a safe test setup for comparing two materials. Include the supports, sample strip, and how you will apply the force fairly.

3 printable pages

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Page 2
Page 3

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More Science Worksheets

Year 4

Material Strength Inquiry Worksheet

Material Strength Inquiry Worksheet

Plan the investigation

Forces and material properties

Read the results

3 printable pages

About This Worksheet

Free in Kuraplan

Print-Ready

AI-Generated

For Teachers & Parents

Need a custom version of this worksheet?

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