Materials – physical properties
Materials have many different physical properties that make them suitable for a range of purposes.
Some properties of materials include:
- Ability to conduct electricity.
- Ability to conduct heat.
- Hardness.
- Strength.
- Density.
- Melting point and boiling point.
Some examples of how these properties are useful are shown below:
| Material | Physical property | Objects made from the material |
| Copper | Good conductor of electricity | Used in electric cables and wires. |
| Iron and steel | Hard, strong | Bridges, ships, cars, girders for buildings. |
| Plastic (PVC) | Low density, strong, resistance to rust | Garden furniture, watering cans. |
| Gold, platinum and silver | Shiny, unreactive | Jewelleries and ornaments, coins. |
| Aluminium | Good conductor of heat, low density | Pots and pans, aluminium foil, aircraft parts. |
| Material | Copper |
|---|---|
| Physical property | Good conductor of electricity |
| Objects made from the material | Used in electric cables and wires. |
| Material | Iron and steel |
|---|---|
| Physical property | Hard, strong |
| Objects made from the material | Bridges, ships, cars, girders for buildings. |
| Material | Plastic (PVC) |
|---|---|
| Physical property | Low density, strong, resistance to rust |
| Objects made from the material | Garden furniture, watering cans. |
| Material | Gold, platinum and silver |
|---|---|
| Physical property | Shiny, unreactive |
| Objects made from the material | Jewelleries and ornaments, coins. |
| Material | Aluminium |
|---|---|
| Physical property | Good conductor of heat, low density |
| Objects made from the material | Pots and pans, aluminium foil, aircraft parts. |
Natural and synthetic materials
Materials can be classified into natural and synthetic materials.
Natural materials are obtained from a living thing (a plant or animal).
Examples of natural materials include: wool, cotton, wood, silk and leather.
Synthetic material are man-made materials; they have to be manufactured through a chemical process.
Examples of synthetic materials include: plastic, nylon and glass.