A property tells us what a material is like. Is it hard or soft? Bendy or stiff? Rough or smooth? Does it let light through? Does it float? Scientists test materials to find out their properties.
Some materials are waterproof: water cannot pass through them. Plastic and rubber are waterproof, but paper and cotton soak up water and are absorbent. Transparent materials, like glass, let light through. Opaque materials, like wood, block light. We can test a property with a fair test: we change only one thing and keep everything else the same.
Worked example
Which is better for a raincoat: cotton or plastic?
- A raincoat must keep water out.
- Plastic is waterproof; cotton soaks up water.
Answer:So plastic is better for a raincoat.
Key words
- property
- what a material is like, for example hard or bendy
- waterproof
- does not let water through
- absorbent
- soaks up water
- transparent
- lets light through so you can see through it
- opaque
- does not let light through
Practise this
New questions every time.
NGSS-referenced: 2-PS1-1