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🪵 Comparing Material Properties

Why are windows glass and tyres rubber? Test materials for hardness, flexibility, transparency, and more to pick the right one for every job.

lessons

~20 min

to learn

🔬 Science

subject

Ages 6–12

level

Start the course →

What you’ll learn

What Are Properties?Understand that a property describes what a material is like and that we test properties to compare materials.A property is a way of describing what a material is like, such as hard, bendy, see-through, waterproof, or able to conduct. We test and compare properties to understand materials.
Testing MaterialsCompare materials such as glass, rubber, metal, and plastic by their properties.Different materials pass different tests: glass is transparent, rubber is flexible, metal is strong and conducts, and waterproof materials keep water out. Comparing side by side shows how they differ.
Right Material for the JobChoose the best material for a job by matching the properties it needs.Objects are made from materials chosen for their properties: glass for windows because it is see-through, metal for pans because it conducts heat, rubber for boots because it is waterproof and bendy. Match the job to the material.

Questions this course answers

What is a property of a material?

A property describes what a material is like — hard, bendy, see-through, waterproof, and so on.

Why are windows made of glass?

Glass is transparent, meaning light passes straight through, so you can see out of a window.

Which property makes rubber good for tyres and elastic bands?

Rubber is flexible and stretchy — it bends and pulls, then springs back, which is perfect for tyres and bands.

Which material conducts electricity?

Metal conducts electricity, letting it pass through easily, which is why electrical wires are made of metal.

A raincoat needs to be waterproof. What does waterproof mean?

Waterproof means water cannot soak in — it beads up and rolls off, keeping you dry.

A saucepan is made of metal mainly because metal...

Metal conducts heat, so it carries heat from the stove into the food, which is why saucepans are metal.

Grounded in trusted sources

Royal Society of Chemistry
BBC Bitesize
Britannica Kids
American Chemical Society

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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