Material properties

Question 1

What is malleability?

Answer 1

The ability of a material to withstand deformation from compression. Malleability increases with temperature.

Question 2

What is ductility?

Answer 2

The ability for a material to be drawn out without fracturing. This decreases with temperature.

Question 3

What is toughness?

Answer 3

The ability of a material to withstand sudden impact without fracturing and also it’s ability to withstand bending.

Question 4

What is elasticity?

Answer 4

The ability of a material to bend and flex when a force is applied and regain it’s shape after the force is removed.

Question 5

What is plasticity?

Answer 5

The ability of a material to be permanently changed in shape by external forces without cracking. E.g. metals and thermoplastics. This increases with heat.

Question 6

What is hardness?

Answer 6

The ability of a material to resist abrasive wear, indentation and deformation. This is needed for cutting tools. It is usually associated with brittleness.

Question 7

What is durability?

Answer 7

The ability of a material to withstand wear and tear as well as weathering and the deterioration or corrosion this may cause.

Question 8

What is stability?

Answer 8

The ability of a material to resist changes in size and shape due to its environment. E.g. wood will warp under heat and moisture.

Question 9

What is strength?

Answer 9

The ability of a material to withstand force without breaking or permanently bending.

Question 10

What is tensile strength?

Answer 10

The ability of a material to resist stretching or pulling forces.

Question 11

What is compressive strength?

Answer 11

The ability of a material to withstand pushing forces which attempt to crush or shorten the material.

Question 12

What is bending strength?

Answer 12

The ability of a material to withstand forces that attempt to bend a material.

Question 13

What is shear strength?

Answer 13

Shear strength is a material’s ability to resist forces that can cause the internal structure of the material to slide against itself. Adhesives tend to have high shear strength.

Question 14

What is torsional strength?

Answer 14

The ability of a material to withstand twisting forces under torsion or torque.

Question 15

What is fusibility?

Answer 15

The ability of a material to change into a molten or liquid state when heated to certain temperatures

Question 16

What is density?

Answer 16

The amount of mass per unit.

Question 17

What is relatively density?

Answer 17

The ratio of the density of a substance to pure water at 4 degrees celsius.

Question 18

What is electrical conductivity?

Answer 18

How much a material resists the flow of a current.

Question 19

What is an electrical insulator?

Answer 19

Materials with very high resistance to the flow of current.

Question 20

What is a semiconductor?

Answer 20

The ability of a material to allow current flow only under certain conditions.

Question 21

What is thermal conductivity measured in?

Answer 21

Watts per metre per degree celsius