C6.1 (4) - materials

Question 1

what are ceramics?

Answer 1

hard, non-metallic materials

Question 2

give 4 examples of ceramics

Answer 2

brick, china, porcelain, terracotta (glass is included in spec but not really an actual ceramic)

Question 3

give 4 typical properties of ceramics

Answer 3

• high melting points
• hard + stiff
• brittle
• bad conductors of heat/electricity

Question 4

GLASS

a) how is it made
b) what are its physical properties
c) what are its uses

Answer 4

a) melting sand + allowing it to cool/solidify
b) transparent, hard, brittle
c) windows, bottles

Question 5

CLAY CERAMICS

a) how is it made
b) physical properties
c) uses

Answer 5

a) heat clay to a very high temperature, tiny crystals form (so it opaque)
b) opaque, hard, brittle, poor conductors
c) bricks + porcelain

Question 6

POLYMER CERAMICS

a) physical properties?
b) uses?

Answer 6

• can be made tansparent
• poor conductor of heat/electricity
• tough or ductile

b) plastic bags, bottles

Question 7

physical properties of metals?

ie. in an electric cable

Answer 7

good conductor

• lightweight
• strong
• resist corrosion
• low tensile strength (stretches easily)

Question 8

what is tensile strength?

Answer 8

how much a material resists before snapping/stretching