Types of Materials | Science Olympiad for Class 1 PDF Download

Materials have different properties that make them useful for different purpose.

Metals

Most metals are strong, hard and shiny materials that can be hammered into different shapes without breaking. They are good conductors of heat and electricity and some are magnetic. Their properties make them useful for objects such as cutlery, saucepans, cars and coins.

Everyday Materials

Plastics

Plastics are materials made from chemicals and are not found in nature. They are strong and waterproof. They can be made into any shape by applying heat. Plastics are not magnetic. They are good insulators and don’t conduct heat or electricity. They are used to make things like bags, bottles and toys.

Glass

Glass is made by melting sand and other minerals together at very high temperatures. It is normally transparent and can be made into different shapes. Thick glass can be strong, but thin glass breaks easily. It’s used for objects that need to be transparent, such as windows and spectacles.

Wood

Wood comes from trees. It is strong, flexible and long-lasting. It is an insulator of heat and electricity. It’s used to make things such as furniture.

Fabrics

Fabrics are made from thin fibres woven together. Different fabrics have different properties. They can be stretchy (a pair of tights), insulating (a woollen coat) or absorbent (a towel). Fabrics are used to make clothes as they are flexible, warm and do not wear out easily.

Recyclable and Non-Recyclable Material

Some of the materials can be used again and again by the process of recycling the waste material into new products.

• Recyclable materials are the materials that can be recycled to become new product. For example: paper, glass, metal, plastic, etc.
• Non-recyclable materials are the materials that can only be used once. They cannot be reused again and again. For example: Coal and petroleum.