Characteristic Properties Definitions

Question 1

Density

Answer 1

Mass/volume

Question 2

Strength

4 types

Answer 2

Ability to withstand forces that try to bend or break it

• compressive strength
• tensile strength
• yield strength
• impact strength

Question 3

Hardness

Answer 3

How resistant it is to pressure from cutting/scratching/wear.

Many hard materials are also brittle

Question 4

Durability

Answer 4

Ability of a material to withstand wear, pressure, damage.

Question 5

Strength to weight ratio

Answer 5

Measure of material’s strength compared to its weight.

Question 6

Stiffness

Answer 6

A material’s rigidity - ability to resist being deformed what a force is applied to it.

Question 7

Elasticity

Answer 7

Ability to return to its original shape when forces are applied to it that make it bend or flex out of shape.

Question 8

Impact resistance

Answer 8

Ability of a material to withstand a force or shock applied to it over a short period of time.

Question 9

Plasticity

Answer 9

Ability of a material to permanently change in shape or form when a force is applied to it.

Question 10

Ductility

Answer 10

How easily it can be deformed under tensile stress

Question 11

Malleability

Answer 11

Material’s ability to deform without breaking or snapping when hammered and in the form of a thin sheet

Question 12

Brittleness

Answer 12

How easily a material will snap or break when bent or impacted.

Question 13

Corrosion resistance to chemicals and weather

Answer 13

How susceptible a material is to degradation from elements such as oxygen, moisture and other chemicals.

Question 14

Water resistance

Answer 14

Ability of a material to resist the ingress of water.

Question 15

Waterproof

Answer 15

Materials that do not absorb moisture or water.

Question 17

Absorbency

Answer 17

Ability of a material to absorb moisture.

Question 18

Flammability

Answer 18

Ability of a substance to burn or ignite, causing fire.

Question 19

Electrical conductivity

Answer 19

How easy it is for electricity to flow through a material.

Question 20

Thermal conductivity

Answer 20

The way heat can be transferred through a material.

Question 21

Thermal resistance

Answer 21

The ability of a material to resist the flow of heat

Question 22

Magnetic properties

Answer 22

A material with magnetic properties will emit forces that attract or repulse other materials.

Question 23

Appearance

Answer 23

Can consider colour (metals, woods, plastics), grain (wood)…

Question 24

Price

Answer 24

Affordability

Question 25

Corrugation

Answer 25

Ridges repeatedly folded into paper to make it stronger

Question 26

Flexibility

Answer 26

.

Question 27

Print ability

Answer 27

Based on paper

Question 28

Biodegradability

Answer 28

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