Physical properties of materials and their uses

Copper Plastic diamond Aluminium steel

What are the properties of each material?

What are these things used for? How are the uses related to the properties?

Hot water

Carry out an investigation to compare the properties of some of these materials.

Thermal conductivity is easy to compare

Copper plastic diamond aluminium steel

Electrical conductivity

59.6 × 106

Sm-1 Very low Very low 37.8 × 106

Sm-110.4 x 106

Sm-1

Thermal conductivity 400 W/(m K) 0.5 W/(m K) 1800 W/(m K) 237 W/(m K) 80 W/(m K)

Density 8920 kg m-3 920 kg/m3 3500 kg m-3 2700 kg m-3 7874 kg m-3

Source

Name of material

(element, mixture, or compound)

Reason for choice giving material data

Are there any other factors that might

affect the choice of material?

Cable for a ring mains at 230V or higher

Making a drill bit for very hard rock

Material for constructing a plane

Material for making a saucepan

Making a storage container

Making body panels for a car

Plenary:

Look at the answers of your partner or another group.

• Do you agree with their reasons?

• Are there any other possible materials that could be used for that purpose?

• Have they used valid reasons and data to support their answer?

You may wish to make alterations to your own work following this discussion with your peers.