Material properties for GCSE Design and Technology
GCSE Design and Technology, Materials. Usually met in years 9 to 11.
Learn the words for how materials behave, such as hardness, toughness, ductility and malleability.
What you practise
Hardness, strength and toughness
Ductility, malleability and elasticity
Conductivity and corrosion resistance
Starts with everyday properties and builds to fusibility and corrosion resistance. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.
Sample questions
Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.
Sample question, level 2 of 5
What does ‘density’ mean?
Absorbing a sudden impact without breaking
Resisting scratches, wear and dents
Mass for a given volume, so how heavy a material is for its size
Not rusting or being worn away by chemicals or the weather
Being hammered or pressed into shape without cracking
Show the answer and method
Answer: C, Mass for a given volume, so how heavy a material is for its size
The method: Density means mass for a given volume, so how heavy a material is for its size.
Why the other options are wrong:
A, Absorbing a sudden impact without breaking: That describes toughness.
B, Resisting scratches, wear and dents: That describes hardness.
D, Not rusting or being worn away by chemicals or the weather: That describes corrosion resistance.
E, Being hammered or pressed into shape without cracking: That describes malleability.
Sample question, level 4 of 5
What does ‘thermal conductivity’ mean?
Resisting scratches, wear and dents
Resisting bending
Soaking up liquid
Letting heat pass through easily
Mass for a given volume, so how heavy a material is for its size
Show the answer and method
Answer: D, Letting heat pass through easily
The method: Thermal conductivity means letting heat pass through easily.
Why the other options are wrong:
A, Resisting scratches, wear and dents: That describes hardness.
B, Resisting bending: That describes stiffness.
C, Soaking up liquid: That describes absorbency.
E, Mass for a given volume, so how heavy a material is for its size: That describes density.
