Properties of materials

Question 1

What does being strong mean? What is the opposite?

Answer 1

• high breaking stress
• withstanding a large force without breaking
• depends on size
• opposite is weak (low breaking stress)

Question 2

What does being stiff mean? What is the opposite?

Answer 2

• a material or object exhibiting very small deformations even when subjected to large forces
• high young modulus
• opposite is flexible (low young modulus)

Question 3

What does being tough mean? What is the opposite?

Answer 3

• a material or object which can absorb energy from impacts and shocks without breaking.
• undergo a lot of plastic deformation to absorb energy

Question 4

Example of a strong material ?

Answer 4

steel

Question 5

Example of a tough material?

Answer 5

car tyres, these absorb a lot of energy to withstand impact from the surface. This energy is transferred to the thermal store of the tyres.

Question 6

Example of a stiff material?

Answer 6

rubber band is not stiff

but a steel piano is

Question 7

What is an elastic material?

Answer 7

• one which is able to regain original dimensions (return to original form) once the force is removed
• opposite is plastic

Question 8

What is a hard object?`

Answer 8

• one which makes it hard for it to be indented or scratched
• example : diamond
• opposite is soft

Question 9

What is a ductile material ?

Answer 9

• materials which can be drawn into wires
• example is copper
• opposite is hard or brittle

Question 10

What is a malleable object ?

Answer 10

• one which can be hammered into a thin sheet

- example is gold

Question 11

What is a brittle material?

Answer 11

• a brittle object will shatter or crack upon impact
• opposite of tough
• these undergo little or no plastic deformation before breaking
• glass or ceramics