Physical Properties (Part 1)

Different materials have different physical properties. Each material has its own physical properties. The physical property of a material is something that you can measure or observe. You can tell materials apart based on their physical properties. The physical properties you will learn are strength, flexibility, the ability to float or sink in water, waterproof and transparency. The strength of a material is its ability to be pulled or pushed without breaking or tearing. Some materials do not break easily even if they are dropped onto the ground, hit by a hammer or pulled apart. These materials are described as strong. Materials that are not strong break easily when they are dropped, pulled or knocked.

The flexibility of a material is its ability to bend without breaking. A rubber tile can bend easily without breaking. Materials that bend easily without breaking are flexible. A ceramic tile breaks when bent. Materials that break easily when bent are rigid. Different materials have different abilities to bend without breaking. Some can bend more easily than others. Rubber tubes can bend more than plastic tubes without breaking. Plastic tubes can bend more than metal tubes without breaking. In this case, we say that rubber is the most flexible material, while metal is the least flexible among the three tubes.

When objects are placed in water, some will float, while others will sink. The material of an object affects the ability of the object to float or sink. The metal block and the metal spoon sink in water. Most metals sink in water. The wooden block and wooden spoon float on water. Most types of wood float on water. Ships are made of metals. If metals sink in water, have you ever wondered why ships are able to float on water? This is because there is a lot of trapped air inside the ship. The trapped air helps the ship to float on water.