See how much you can remember about materials

See how much you can remember about materials and their properties by answering the questions in this quiz. Be careful – I’ve been a bit sneaky with some of the answers so you’ll need to think extra hard before you make your choice! There are some worksheets at the end of the quiz for you to complete. Have fun!

Describe some properties of a towel… A Hard, rigid and flexible. B Soft, flexible and absorbent. C Waterproof, brittle and opaque.

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! A towel needs to be soft so it feels good on your skin; flexible so it molds to your body and absorbent so it soaks up water and gets you dry! next

You wouldn't sit on a glass chair because… A It might shatter B It would be transparent C It wouldn’t be absorbent

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! A glass chair would be very brittle so sitting on it would be a big mistake! Brittle materials break, or shatter, easily meaning they’re not very good for making things to sit on, kick or throw. next

Which would bounce the highest… A A rubber ball B A glass marble C A pingpong ball

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! The rubber ball would bounce the highest because it has the greatest elasticity. When the rubber ball hits the ground it gets compressed, or squished, and because it is very elastic, it quickly returns to its original shape. When it does this, it pushes back on the ground and shoots back up into the air. The marble, which is the hardest out of the three balls, has the least elasticity, so it does not bounce as high. It doesn’t get squished when it lands, so it has a harder time changing its direction from down to up. next

Windows are made from… A Glass, because it is rigid and transparent. B Bricks, because they are rigid and opaque. C Cling film, because it is transparent and waterproof.

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! Windows are made from glass because it is a very hard material and although it is brittle, it is also very strong. Glass is also transparent which is a really good property because it lets the light through. Imagine if your windows were made of bricks – your house would be dark all the time! next

What would be the best material to make a teapot out of… A Cardboard B Metal C Chocolate

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! Metals like stainless steel make great teapots because they are strong, light and waterproof. Cardboard is also light but very absorbent so would soak up all your tea and then fall apart. And although chocolate might make your tea taste yummy, imagine the mess it would make once it starts to melt! next

Why is metal used to make nails? A Because it rusts B Because it is shiny C Because it does not bend easily

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! Nails are used to hold things together so they are made from metals like steel, iron and aluminum. These metals are very strong and last for a long time which is why they are used to make objects like nails and screws. next

Why is rubber used to make wellington boots? A Because it floats B Because it opaque C Because it is waterproof

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Well Done, You Got It Correct! Rubber may float and it usually is opaque but most importantly it’s waterproof which makes it ideal for wellies. Imagine making wellies out of cotton wool – what would happen? next