5. Solid materials - Properties of materials

Characteristics

Things that describe what a material is like.

Hard

Difficult to scratch or bend.

Soft

Easy to scratch or bend.

Stiff

Holds its shape firmly.

Bendable

Can be bent easily.

Strong

Does not break easily.

Weak

Breaks easily.

Light

Does not weigh much.

Heavy

Weighs a lot.

Waterproof

Water cannot go through it.

Absorbent

Soaks up water.

Solid

Something that has its own shape, like a rock. Its tiny parts are packed close together.

Liquid

Something that flows and takes the shape of its container, like water. Its tiny parts can move around a bit.

Gas

Something that spreads everywhere and fills its container, like air. Its tiny parts are far apart.

Matter

Anything around us that takes up space.

Changes of state

When a material changes from solid to liquid, or liquid to gas, etc..

Melt

When a solid turns into a liquid because it gets warm, like ice turning into water.

Evaporate

When a liquid turns into a gas because it gets warm, like water turning into steam.

Freeze

When a liquid turns into a solid because it gets cold, like water turning into ice.

Condensation

When a gas turns into a liquid because it gets cold, like steam turning into water drops.

Unprocessed material

Material found in nature, like wood or sand.

Processed material

Material made by people from natural materials, like paper or glass.

Process

To change a material into something else.

Heating

Making something warmer.

Cooling

Making something colder.