Websink Prep UKKS2 ScienceYear 5 chaptersScience textbooksYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6Year 7Year 8Year 9Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Primary Science · Year 5Chapter 5 · Properties and uses of materials
Year 5 · Chapter 5

Properties and uses of materials

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Compare and group materials by whether they are see-through, and by how hard they are
  • Explain which materials conduct electricity, and use a circuit test to sort them
  • Explain which materials conduct heat, and use a spoon test to compare them
  • Say which materials are pulled by a magnet, and group materials by that property
  • Give reasons, from evidence, for choosing a material for a particular use

You should already know

  • Materials and their simple properties, such as hard, soft, shiny and see-through (Year 1 and Year 3 Science)
  • Fair tests, and changing only one thing at a time (Year 5 Science, Chapter 1)

Where this leads

  • Solutions and separating mixtures, where solubility is used (Year 5 Science, Chapter 6)
  • Reversible and irreversible changes (Year 5 Science, Chapter 7)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 science, Year 5. Content: M1 compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties: hardness, solubility, transparency, conductivity (electrical and thermal), response to magnets, M2 give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials, including metals, wood and plastic.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FName a material that a window is usually made from. Write the word.
2
FName a material that a drinks bottle is often made from. Write the word.
3
FIs glass see-through? Write yes or no.
4
FWhich material is pulled by a magnet: wood or iron? Write the word.
5
FWrite the word for a material that a magnet pulls towards it.
5.1

Hardness and transparency

Year 5
M1: compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties, such as hardness and transparency
Video lesson: Hardness and transparencyComing soon
Story. Priya is choosing a material for a new window box. “I want it to be hard and not too easy to scratch,” she says. Her teacher replies: “Then test each material fairly, and look at the evidence before you decide.”

A property is a feature of a material that we can describe or measure, such as how hard it is or whether light can pass through it.

Hardness can be tested by scratching: a harder material makes fewer scratches on a softer test board. Transparent materials let you see clearly through them. Translucent materials let light through, but you cannot see clearly through them. Opaque materials do not let light through at all.

MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
MaterialNumber of scratches on the test board
clear glass0
wooden block3
iron nail2
clear glass: you can see throughwood: you cannot see through
Clear glass you can see through, next to a wooden panel you cannot see through.

Key ideas

  • A property is a feature of a material that can be described or measured.
  • A transparent material lets you see clearly through it.
  • An opaque material does not let light through.
  • A harder material makes fewer scratches than a softer one, in a fair scratch test.
Worked example 5.1.1
Look at the table in section 5.1. Which material is see-through: clear glass, or wooden block? Write the words.

Method. Read the see-through column.

  1. Read the row for each material. The clear glass row says yes, and the wooden block row says no.
    yes and no
  2. Choose the see-through one. So the see-through material is clear glass.
    clear glass
  3. Write the answer.
    clear glass

Check. You can see through clear glass. ✓

Worked example 5.1.2
In the scratch test, which material made the most scratches? Write the words.

Method. Read the scratch table.

  1. Read the counts. The wooden block has 3 scratches, the iron nail 2, and the clear glass 0.
    3, 2, 0
  2. Choose the largest. The most scratches were made by the wooden block.
    wooden block
  3. Write the answer.
    wooden block

Check. The wooden block was the softest of the three in this test. ✓

Worked example 5.1.3
Which material made no scratches on the test board? Write the words.

Method. Read the scratch table.

  1. Find the zero. The clear glass row has 0 scratches.
    0
  2. Name the material. So the material with no scratches is clear glass.
    clear glass
  3. Write the answer.
    clear glass

Check. The glass did not mark the board in this test. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a material that is hard to scratch is not always the same as one that is see-through. A property is tested separately, so look at each column on its own.

Try it (with your teacher). Take three small pieces of different materials (for example a plastic lid, a piece of card and a coin). With your teacher, gently scratch a soft board with each material, using the same pressure every time. Count the scratches. Then hold each material up to a window and say whether you can see through it.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which material is see-through? Which made the fewest scratches?” Let your child keep the test the same each time.

Exercise 5A  Hardness and transparency

1
FWorking scientifically. Compare the evidence. Look at the table in section 5.1. Which material is see-through: clear plastic bottle, or copper wire? Write the words.
2
FWhich material in the table is opaque: wooden block, or clear glass? Write the words.
3
FHow many materials in the table in section 5.1 are see-through? Write the number.
4
FIn the scratch test, how many scratches did the iron nail make? Write the number.
5
PSIn the scratch test, which material made the fewest scratches, but some? Write the words.
6
PSWhat is the total number of scratches on the test board in section 5.1? Write the number.
7
PSLook at the table in section 5.1. Which materials are see-through, and which two materials are not? Write the names of the two that are not see-through.
8
FFill in the gap: a material that you can see clearly through is called ___. Write one word.
9
FFill in the gap: a material that does not let light through at all is called ___. Write one word.
10
PSWorking scientifically. Plan a fair test. Write one thing that must stay the same in a fair scratch test. Write one sentence.
11
RExplain why a harder material makes fewer scratches than a softer one, in a fair test. Write one sentence.
5.2

Electrical conductivity

Year 5
M1: group materials by whether they conduct electricity, using a fair circuit test
Video lesson: Electrical conductivityComing soon
Story. Mr Patel gives the class a battery, a bulb, some wires and a switch. “Put each material into the gap, and see if the bulb lights,” he says. “Then we can sort the materials into two groups.”

Electricity passes through some materials but not others. A material that lets electricity pass through it is a conductor. A material that does not let electricity pass through it is an insulator.

In a circuit with a bulb, the bulb lights when a conductor completes the loop. Metals, such as iron, aluminium and copper, are good conductors. Plastic, wood, glass and rubber are insulators.

cellbulbswitch?material to test
A simple circuit with a cell, a bulb and a switch. A material is placed in the gap in the top wire to test whether it conducts electricity.

The test results for the materials in section 5.1 are in the table. The bulb lit when a material conducted electricity.

MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono

Key ideas

  • A conductor lets electricity pass through it, so the bulb lights.
  • An insulator does not let electricity pass through it, so the bulb stays off.
  • Metals such as iron, aluminium and copper are conductors.
  • Plastic, wood, glass and rubber are insulators.
Worked example 5.2.1
Look at the table in section 5.2. Which material conducts electricity: wooden block, or copper wire? Write the words.

Method. Read the electricity column.

  1. Read the rows. The copper wire row says yes, and the wooden block row says no.
    yes and no
  2. Choose the conductor. So the material that conducts electricity is copper wire.
    copper wire
  3. Write the answer.
    copper wire

Check. Copper is a metal, and metals conduct electricity. ✓

Worked example 5.2.2
Is clear glass a conductor or an insulator? Write the word.

Method. Read the electricity column for clear glass.

  1. Read the row. The clear glass row says no for conducts electricity.
    no
  2. Name the kind. A material that does not conduct electricity is an insulator.
    insulator
  3. Write the answer.
    insulator

Check. Glass is an insulator. ✓

Worked example 5.2.3
How many of the seven materials in the table conduct electricity? Write the number.

Method. Count the yes rows in the electricity column.

  1. Read the column. The yes rows are the iron nail, aluminium foil and copper wire.
    three yes rows
  2. Count them. So three materials conduct electricity.
    3
  3. Write the answer.
    3

Check. The other four materials are insulators. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a bulb that stays off does not always mean that a material is safe. Only test with the low-voltage battery pack your teacher gives you, and never connect a circuit to the mains electricity.

Try it (with your teacher). Use a low-voltage battery pack, a bulb in a holder and some crocodile clips, all set up by your teacher. Put a metal paper clip, a plastic ruler, a rubber band and a wooden lolly stick in the gap, one at a time. Record whether the bulb lights each time in a table.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which materials let the electricity pass? Which did not? What do they have in common?” Let your child sort the materials into two groups.

Exercise 5B  Electrical conductivity

1
FWhich materials in the table in section 5.2 conduct electricity? Write the name of one of them: iron nail, clear glass or wooden block.
2
FIs aluminium foil a conductor or an insulator? Write the word.
3
FIs a plastic bottle a conductor or an insulator? Write the word.
4
FFill in the gap: a material that lets electricity pass through it is called a ___. Write one word.
5
FIn a circuit, what does a conductor do to the bulb when it completes the loop? Write one word.
6
FHow many insulators are in the table in section 5.2? Write the number.
7
PSLook at the table in section 5.2. Which conductor is a wire used in electrical circuits? Write the name.
8
PSLook at the circuit in section 5.2. What is the name of the part that is turned on or off? Write the word.
9
PSLook at the circuit in section 5.2. Which part of the circuit gives the electricity? Write the word.
cellbulbswitch?material to test
10
PSWorking scientifically. Sort the evidence. Sort these into two groups: conductor or insulator, for a wooden block. Write the word.
11
RExplain why a metal paper clip could be used to test a circuit, and a plastic ruler could not. Write one sentence.
5.3

Thermal conductivity

Year 5
M1: group materials by how well they conduct heat, using a fair test with warm water and butter
Video lesson: Thermal conductivityComing soon
Story. Ruby is making hot chocolate. She stirs it with a metal spoon, and the spoon feels hot in her hand. “The handle of my wooden spoon stays cool,” she says. “Why is that?”

A material that lets heat pass through it easily is a good thermal conductor. Metals are good conductors of heat. Wood and plastic are poor conductors, so they are used for handles.

In a fair test, three spoons are put into warm water with a drop of butter on each bowl. The spoon that conducts heat best moves the heat up to the butter fastest, so the butter melts and slides off sooner.

metal spoonplastic spoonwooden spoon
Three spoons, metal, plastic and wooden, each with a drop of butter on the bowl, in warm water.

The results of a class test are in the table. Each spoon was put in warm water in the same way, with the same amount of butter.

SpoonSeconds for the butter to melt and slide off
metal spoon40
plastic spoon150
wooden spoon180

Key ideas

  • A good conductor of heat moves heat quickly through the material.
  • In the spoon test, the metal spoon was fastest, because metals conduct heat well.
  • Wood and plastic are poor conductors of heat, so they make good handles.
  • A fair test keeps the water, the butter and the spoons the same.
Worked example 5.3.1
Look at the table in section 5.3. Which spoon was fastest to melt the butter? Write the words.

Method. Find the shortest time.

  1. Read the times. The metal spoon took 40 seconds, the plastic spoon 150 seconds, and the wooden spoon 180 seconds.
    40, 150, 180
  2. Choose the shortest. The shortest time is 40 seconds, for the metal spoon.
    metal spoon
  3. Write the answer.
    metal spoon

Check. The metal spoon conducts heat best. ✓

Worked example 5.3.2
How many seconds longer did the wooden spoon take than the metal spoon? Write the number.

Method. Subtract the metal spoon time from the wooden spoon time.

  1. Read the two times. The wooden spoon took 180 seconds, and the metal spoon took 40 seconds.
    180 and 40
  2. Subtract. The difference is 180 minus 40, which is 140.
    180 - 40 = 140
  3. Write the answer.
    140

Check. Check: 40 + 140 = 180. ✓

Watch out. Subtract the smaller time from the larger time.

Worked example 5.3.3
Is wood a good conductor of heat, or a poor conductor? Write the words.

Method. Read the results and the key ideas.

  1. Read the key idea. Wood and plastic are poor conductors of heat.
    poor conductors
  2. Choose the answer. So wood is a poor conductor of heat.
    poor conductor
  3. Write the answer.
    poor conductor

Check. The wooden spoon was the slowest in the test. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a metal spoon feels hot because it conducts heat to your hand. The metal did not make the heat. Only fair tests show which material conducts heat best.

Try it (with your teacher). Use warm tap water (not hot), a metal spoon, a plastic spoon and a wooden spoon. Put a small piece of butter on the bowl of each spoon, and stand them in warm water in the same way. Time how long the butter takes to melt and slide off. Keep your hands out of the hot water, and be careful with the spoons.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which spoon was fastest? Why do you think the wooden handle feels cool?” Let your child keep the test fair by changing only the spoon.

Exercise 5C  Thermal conductivity

1
FWhich spoon in the table in section 5.3 melted the butter fastest? Write the words.
2
FWhich spoon in the table took the longest time? Write the words.
3
FHow many seconds did the plastic spoon take? Write the number.
4
FWork out how many seconds the metal spoon was faster than the plastic spoon. Write the number.
5
FFill in the gap: a good conductor of heat moves heat ___. Write one word.
6
FAre plastic and wood good conductors of heat, or poor conductors? Write the words.
7
PSWhich kind of spoon should be used to stir a hot pan, so that the handle stays cool: metal or wooden? Write the word.
8
PSLook at the table in section 5.3. Which spoon was the slowest? Write the number of seconds it took.
9
PSWorking scientifically. Plan a fair test. Write one thing that must stay the same in the spoon test. Write one sentence.
10
RExplain why a metal spoon feels hot in a hot drink, but a wooden spoon does not. Write one sentence.
5.4

Materials and magnets

Year 5
M1: group materials by whether a magnet pulls them, and identify some magnetic materials
Video lesson: Materials and magnetsComing soon
Story. Tom finds a bar magnet in the science cupboard. He tests it on a pile of objects on the table. “The nail jumped up,” he says. “The copper wire did not move at all.” Mrs Ali says: “Only some materials are magnetic.”

A magnet pulls some materials towards it. These are magnetic materials. Iron and steel are magnetic. Most other materials, including copper, aluminium, wood, plastic, glass and rubber, are not magnetic, and a magnet does not pull them.

A magnet can pull a magnetic material towards it across a small gap. It does not need to be touching it.

NSbar magnetiron nail: pulledcopper wire: not pulled
A bar magnet pulls an iron nail towards it, but not a copper wire.

The table shows which materials are pulled by a magnet in a fair test.

MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono

Key ideas

  • Iron and steel are magnetic materials.
  • A magnet pulls a magnetic material towards it.
  • Copper, aluminium, wood, plastic, glass and rubber are not pulled by a magnet.
  • A magnet can pull a magnetic material across a small gap.
Worked example 5.4.1
Look at the table in section 5.4. Which material is pulled by a magnet: aluminium foil, or iron nail? Write the words.

Method. Read the magnet column.

  1. Read the rows. The iron nail row says yes, and the aluminium foil row says no.
    yes and no
  2. Choose the magnetic one. So the material pulled by a magnet is the iron nail.
    iron nail
  3. Write the answer.
    iron nail

Check. Iron is a magnetic material. ✓

Worked example 5.4.2
How many of the seven materials are pulled by a magnet? Write the number.

Method. Count the yes rows in the magnet column.

  1. Read the column. Only the iron nail row says yes.
    one yes row
  2. Count them. So one material is pulled by a magnet.
    1
  3. Write the answer.
    1

Check. Only iron is pulled among these seven materials. ✓

Worked example 5.4.3
Is copper wire magnetic? Write yes or no.

Method. Read the magnet column for copper wire.

  1. Read the row. The copper wire row says no for pulled by a magnet.
    no
  2. Decide. So copper wire is not magnetic.
    no
  3. Write the answer.
    no

Check. Copper is a metal, but it is not magnetic. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: not all metals are magnetic. Copper and aluminium are metals, but a magnet does not pull them.

Try it (with your teacher). With your teacher, put a bar magnet near a set of small objects: an iron nail, a copper coin, an aluminium foil ball, a plastic bead and a rubber band. Record which objects the magnet pulls. Keep magnets away from phones and bank cards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which objects did the magnet pull? Which were not pulled? Are they all metal?” Let your child sort the objects into two groups.

Exercise 5D  Materials and magnets

1
FWhich material is a magnetic material from the table in section 5.4? Write the name.
2
FIs aluminium foil magnetic? Write yes or no.
3
FIs a wooden block magnetic? Write yes or no.
4
FFill in the gap: a magnet pulls a ___ material towards it. Write one word.
5
FName one magnetic material from the key ideas in section 5.4. Write one word.
6
FHow many of the materials in the table in section 5.4 are not pulled by a magnet? Write the number.
7
PSIs copper a magnetic material? Write yes or no.
8
PSTom says: “All metals are magnetic.” Is Tom right? Write yes or no.
9
PSWorking scientifically. Predict the outcome. Predict whether a magnet will pull a steel paperclip. Write yes or no.
10
RExplain why a magnet can pull an iron nail across a small gap, but cannot pull a copper wire. Write one sentence.
5.5

Choosing materials for a use

Year 5
M2: give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials, including metals, wood and plastic
Video lesson: Choosing materials for a useComing soon
Story. The school cook needs a new saucepan. Mr Patel says: “Look at the evidence from our tests. Which material should the base be made from? Which should the handle be made from? Explain your reasons.”

We choose a material for a job by matching its properties to what the job needs. The evidence from our fair tests helps us to decide.

metal: conducts heatplastic handle:does not conduct heatheat from the flame
A saucepan with a metal base that conducts heat, and a plastic handle that does not conduct heat.

Key ideas

  • Choose a material by matching its properties to the job.
  • A metal base conducts heat, so the food heats quickly.
  • A plastic or wooden handle does not conduct heat well, so it stays cool.
  • Glass is transparent, so it is used for windows. Wood is opaque, so it is used for tables.
Worked example 5.5.1
Look at the saucepan in section 5.5. Which part should conduct heat well: the metal base, or the plastic handle? Write the words.

Method. Think about what the base needs to do.

  1. Think about the base. The base must conduct heat, so the food heats up quickly.
    conduct heat
  2. Choose the part. So the base should be the part that conducts heat.
    metal base
  3. Write the answer.
    metal base

Check. Metal conducts heat well. ✓

Worked example 5.5.2
Why is a plastic handle a good choice for a saucepan? Write one reason.

Method. Think about the handle.

  1. Think about the handle. A plastic handle does not conduct heat, so it stays cool to hold.
    stays cool
  2. Write the reason. So the cook can hold the pan safely.
    stays cool
  3. Write the answer.
    it stays cool to hold

Check. The evidence from the spoon test shows plastic is a poor conductor of heat. ✓

Worked example 5.5.3
Which material is best for a window, glass or wood? Write the word.

Method. Think about what a window needs.

  1. Think about the window. A window needs to be transparent, so that light comes in.
    transparent
  2. Choose the material. Glass is transparent, but wood is opaque, so glass is the best choice.
    glass
  3. Write the answer.
    glass

Check. Clear glass was see-through in the test. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a material is not chosen for one property alone. A saucepan base needs to conduct heat, but a handle must not. Think about the job as a whole.

Try it (with your teacher). Choose one object at home or school, such as a cup, a spoon or a bag. With a grown-up, list the properties it needs for its job. Then say which material it is made of, and give one reason, based on a property you have tested.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “What job does this object do? What does its material need to be good at?” Let your child use the evidence from the tests in this chapter.

Exercise 5E  Choosing materials for a use

1
FWhich part of a saucepan should conduct heat well? Write the words.
2
FWhich part of a saucepan should not conduct heat, so that the cook can hold it? Write the words.
3
FWhich material is used for a window, so that light comes in? Write the word.
4
FWhich material is strong and opaque, and used for a table? Write the word.
5
FWhich property of glass makes it useful for a window? Write the word: transparent or magnetic.
6
PSLook at the spoon test in section 5.3. Which material conducts heat fastest? Write the word.
7
PSA tray must be picked up with a magnet, so the part that the magnet pulls must be magnetic. Which material should it be made from: iron or wood? Write the word.
8
PSWorking scientifically. Justify a choice. A school wants a cup for a hot drink. Should the cup be made of metal or plastic? Write the word.
9
RExplain why a wooden spoon is a good choice for stirring hot food. Write one sentence.
10
RExplain why a copper wire is a good choice for a circuit, but a plastic ruler is not. Write one sentence.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
Hardness and transparencyA harder material makes fewer scratches. Transparent materials let you see through them; opaque ones do not.
Electrical conductivityConductors, such as metals, let electricity pass through them. Insulators, such as plastic, wood and glass, do not.
Thermal conductivityMetals conduct heat well. Wood and plastic are poor conductors, so they are used for handles.
Magnetic materialsIron and steel are magnetic. Copper, aluminium, wood, plastic, glass and rubber are not pulled by a magnet.
Choosing materialsMatch a material’s properties to the job, and use evidence from fair tests to justify the choice.

Can you…?

  • I can compare materials by hardness and transparency, using a fair test
  • I can say which materials conduct electricity, and sort them into conductors and insulators
  • I can use a spoon test to compare how well materials conduct heat
  • I can say which materials are magnetic, and group materials by that property
  • I can give reasons, from evidence, for choosing a material for a use

Key terms

property
a feature of a material that can be described or measured
transparent
a material that you can see clearly through
opaque
a material that does not let light through
hardness
how difficult a material is to scratch or mark
conductor
a material that lets electricity pass through it
insulator
a material that does not let electricity pass through it
thermal conductor
a material that lets heat pass through it easily
magnetic material
a material that a magnet pulls towards it, such as iron or steel
fair test
a test in which only one thing is changed, and everything else is kept the same

Exercise 5Z  Check-up

1
Look at the table in section 5.1. Which material is see-through: clear glass, or rubber band? Write the words.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
2
Which material is a conductor of electricity: wooden block, or aluminium foil? Write the words.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
3
Which spoon melted the butter fastest in the spoon test? Write the words.
SpoonSeconds for the butter to melt and slide off
metal spoon40
plastic spoon150
wooden spoon180
4
Which material is pulled by a magnet in the table? Write the name.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
5
Is a plastic bottle a conductor of electricity? Write yes or no.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
6
Look at the scratch test in section 5.1. How many scratches did the wooden block make? Write the number.
MaterialNumber of scratches on the test board
clear glass0
wooden block3
iron nail2
7
Fill in the gap: a material that you can see clearly through is ___. Write one word.
8
Fill in the gap: a material that lets electricity pass through it is a ___. Write one word.
9
Which part of the saucepan should not conduct heat, so that the cook can hold it? Write the words.
metal: conducts heatplastic handle:does not conduct heatheat from the flame
10
Explain why we use metal for a saucepan base but plastic for its handle. Write one sentence.

Total 20 marks. Allow about 20 minutes.

Exercise 5X  Practice test questions

1
FWhich material in the table is see-through, and is a type of glass? Write the words.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
[1 mark]
2
FWrite the word for a material that a magnet pulls towards it.[1 mark]
3
FWrite the word for a material that lets electricity pass through it.[1 mark]
4
FIn the spoon test, the metal spoon took 40 seconds and the plastic spoon took 150 seconds for the butter to slide off. How many seconds faster was the metal spoon? Write the number.
SpoonSeconds for the butter to melt and slide off
metal spoon40
plastic spoon150
wooden spoon180
[2 marks]
5
FLook at the scratch test in section 5.1. Work out the total number of scratches on the test board. Write the number.
MaterialNumber of scratches on the test board
clear glass0
wooden block3
iron nail2
[2 marks]
6
FName two materials from the table in section 5.4 that a magnet does not pull. Write the two names.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
[2 marks]
7
RExplain why a metal base is used on a saucepan, using evidence from the spoon test. Write one sentence.[3 marks]
8
PSPriya says: “Copper is a metal, so a magnet will pull it.” Is Priya right? Write no, and give one reason from the table in section 5.4.
MaterialSee-through?Conducts electricity?Conducts heat?Pulled by a magnet?
iron nailnoyesyesyes
aluminium foilnoyesyesno
copper wirenoyesyesno
clear glassyesnonono
clear plastic bottleyesnonono
wooden blocknononono
rubber bandnononono
[2 marks]
9
RExplain why a window is made of clear glass, but a wooden table is not. Write one sentence.[3 marks]
10
RA student says: “If a material is hard, it must also conduct electricity.” Is the student right? Write no, and give one reason from the tests in this chapter.[3 marks]
← Chapter 4: Growing up to old ageChapter 6: Solutions and separating mixtures →

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings