Part 1 Understanding Clay

Question 1

a compound of decomposed and altered rock consisting of aluminum along with non-plastics such as quartz and organic matter

Answer 1

clay

Question 2

pale body of primary clay that has a distinctive ring when struck

Answer 2

porcelain clay

Question 3

secondary clays that are not as fine grained as other clays

Answer 3

stoneware clay

Question 4

the capacity of a material to soak up a liquid

Answer 4

absorption

Question 5

concentration of the clay in either drying or firing

Answer 5

shrinkage

Question 6

a suspension of clay in water

Answer 6

slip

Question 7

the quality of clay that allows it to be easily shaped and maintain its form

Answer 7

plasticity

Question 8

the condition of raw clay when most of the moisture has evaporated, leaving it still soft enough to carve and join to other pieces

Answer 8

leather hard

Question 9

the condition of unfired clay that has no moisture other than humidity

Answer 9

bone dry

Question 10

clay that has been fired once

Answer 10

bisque fired

Question 11

the explosion of clay in the kiln resulting from rapid heating of thick clay or the presence of impurities

Answer 11

blowout

Question 12

air bubbles appearing in the glaze after fast firing

Answer 12

blistering

Question 13

potteryware with a porous body that may or may not be covered in glaze

Answer 13

earthenware

Question 14

fired clay that has been crushed into granulas, which may be added to clay body to increase strength, control drying, and reduce shrinkage

Answer 14

grog