U2: Classifying Materials

Key Learning Points:

• Type of material of an object refers to what that object is made up of. E.g. plastic, wood, metal, rubber, glass or ceramic.


• Object refers to the name of the item. E.g table, chair, cup.


• Properties of materials refer to the characteristics of that material. Examples of properties include:

(a) Degree of transparency to light (opaque, translucent or transparent)

(b) Magnetic properties

(c) Electrical properties

(d) Thermal properties

• You must be able to explain why a certain object is made up of a particular material. E.g. transparent glass is used to make windows because it is transparent and thus allows us to see through it / look at the surroundings outside.