Properties of Materials

What Are Properties?#

Look around your classroom. You can see desks, chairs, windows, and books. All of these things are made of different materials. A material is what an object is made from — wood, plastic, metal, glass, fabric, rubber, and more.

Every material has properties. A property is something that describes what a material is like. Scientists use properties to describe, compare, and sort materials.

Here are some properties scientists look at:

• Color — What color is the material? Red, blue, brown?
• Texture — Dös it feel smooth, rough, bumpy, or soft?
• Shape — Is it flat, round, long, or curved?
• Hardness — Is it hard like rock, or soft like cotton?
• Flexibility — Can you bend it, or dös it break?
• Transparency — Can light pass through it? Can you see through it?
• Absorbency — Dös it soak up water, or dös water drip off?
• Strength — Can it hold weight without breaking?

Why Do Properties Matter?#

Properties help us choose the right material for the right job. Think about a raincoat. It must keep water out, so it is made from a waterproof material. A sponge needs to soak up spills, so it is made from an absorbent material. A window needs to let in light, so it is made from a transparent material.

If we used the wrong material, things would not work properly! Imagine a window made of wood — you couldn't see outside! Or a sponge made of plastic — it couldn't soak up water!

Observing Properties#

You can observe many properties just by looking and touching. You can also do simple tests:

• Try bending the material — is it flexible or stiff?
• Drop water on it — dös it absorb or repel the water?
• Try scratching it — is it hard or soft?

Scientists always test materials carefully before choosing them to build things. Now let's learn more about specific properties!