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Testing Materials Properties

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Testing Materials Properties

A storm is coming to a campsite. Help the design team choose materials for useful, safe equipment. Read each clue carefully and use the properties of materials to justify your ideas.

The test bench

A class tested small samples. Their results are shown below. A tick means the property was observed; a cross means it was not observed. Use the evidence, not guesses about every possible version of a material.

Sample | Strong | Flexible | Transparent | Absorbent Paper | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ Clear plastic sheet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ Steel strip | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ Cotton fabric | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓

1.Which tested sample would be best for a see-through rain cover? Choose one and use two results from the table to support your choice.
2.A camper needs a cloth to wipe up a small spill. Which tested material is a sensible choice: paper, steel, or clear plastic? Explain using the table.
  • Paper, because it is absorbent
  • Steel, because it is strong
  • Clear plastic, because it is transparent
3.The steel strip is strong but not flexible. What does this tell you about its behaviour when a force tries to bend it?
4.Complete the sentence with the best property word: A sponge soaks up water, so it is .
5.Complete the sentence with the best property word: A plastic sheet that water cannot pass through is .
6.Complete the sentence with the best property word: A material that lets light pass through clearly is .

Choose materials for the campsite

The design team has these options: waterproof coated fabric, clear plastic, steel, and paper. Think about what each part needs to do.

7.Choose a material for the tent roof. It must keep rain out and bend enough to be folded for packing. Name the material and explain why it fits both needs.
8.The tent needs a small window so campers can see outside while staying sheltered. Which option is most suitable, and which property makes it useful?
9.The team wants a strong peg to hold the tent in the ground. Which option is likely to be the best choice: steel or paper? Give one reason.
10.A designer says, “If a material is strong, it must also be flexible.” Is this claim supported by the test results? Use one sample as evidence.
TrueFalse
11.A paper towel and a plastic sheet are both thin. Why might the paper towel be better for drying a wet table, while the plastic sheet is better for covering it?
12.Plan a fair test to compare how absorbent two fabric samples are. State what you would keep the same and what you would measure.

3 printable pages

  • Testing Materials Properties, page 1 of 3: The test bench

    Page 1

  • Testing Materials Properties, page 2 of 3: Choose materials for the campsite

    Page 2

  • Testing Materials Properties, page 3 of 3: 12. Plan a fair test to compare how absorbent two fabric samples are. State what you…

    Page 3

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