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Chapter 2 Exploring Diversity of Matter by Its Physical Properties

How can the physical properties of materials help us determine their functions?
How does the diversity of physical properties contribute to our daily lives?

How can matter be classified by its physical properties?

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Chapter 2 Exploring Diversity of Matter by Its Physical Properties 2.1 Physical Properties of Matter 2.2 Density

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

At the end of this section, you should be able to answer the following questions:

What are physical properties?

How do physical properties determine which material is used to make an object?

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Lesson trigger
The preserved mummy of King Tutankhamun was encased in an intricately carved, solid gold coffin. Gold can be easily beaten, moulded and engraved with complex details. Gold is also shiny and able to retain its original lustre.

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

The physical properties of a material are qualities that can be detected by using our five senses or a measuring device. The physical properties of one material are different from that of another material.
Go to Link (Page 26)

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Choosing the right material
Materials can be classified into metals, glass, plastics, ceramics and fibres.

Materials are classified according to their common physical properties.

To determine if a material is suitable for making an object, we consider its physical properties.
Go to Link and Take Note (Page 27)

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

In choosing the right material, we should ask some questions such as:

Should this object be able to conduct heat or electricity?

Should this object be able to withstand scratches? Should this object have high or low boiling and melting points? Is the cost of this material too much for the purpose it is used for, even if it has ideal properties?
Go to Science Bites (Page 27)
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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Flexibility The flexibility of a material is its ability to:
bend without breaking; and

return to its original size and shape after bending.

Flexibility

Rubber is an example of a flexible material. Rubber is usually used in the manufacture of automobile tyres.
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This flexible measuring tape is made from a type of plastic that can bend without breaking.

2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Hardness
The hardness of a material is its ability to withstand scratches.
A material can cut or scratch a material that is less hard than itself but not a material that is harder. Steel and ceramics are examples of hard materials.

Steel drills are used to bore holes through hard rock.

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Melting point
The melting point of a material is the temperature at which it changes in state from a solid to a liquid.

Ceramic has a very high melting point and can withstand temperatures of up to 1370C! Hence, ceramic tiles are used in space shuttles to provide thermal protection when the rockets are fired.

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Mercury, compared to other metals, has a low melting point of 38.83 C. Thus, it exists as a liquid at room temperature. Mercury is usually used in thermometers.

mercury

Find out what other materials have high melting points. In what ways can they be useful to us?

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Boiling point
The boiling point of a material is the temperature at which it changes in state form a liquid to a gas.
Go to Practical Book Link (Page 28)

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Here, you can see hot liquid iron being poured into its cast. Since iron has a very high boiling point of 2750oC, it does not boil into a gas even when it glows red hot!

Liquid nitrogen boils at a very low temperature of -196 oC. Objects freeze rapidly upon contact with liquid nitrogen.
Click here for a demonstration on how to make instant ice-cream using liquid nitrogen. Why is liquid nitrogen used to make ice cream?
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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Strength
The strength of a material is its ability to support a heavy load without breaking or tearing. The Golden-orb weaving spider produces dragline silk. It is stronger than steel and more elastic than nylon. It can be stretched up to four times its length without breaking!
Click here for a video of the Golden-orb weaving spider in action! Provide some examples of organisms that the Golden-orb weaving spider feeds on.

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Electrical conductivity
The electrical conductivity of a material is a measure of how readily electricity passes through it. Materials that allow electricity to pass through them easily are called electrical conductors. Materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them easily are called electrical insulators or poor electrical conductors.
Electrical wires are usually made of copper which allows electricity to pass through it easily. Polyvinyl chloride(PVC) coating on wires protects us from being electrocuted as it is an electrical insulator.

electrical wire PVC coating

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Thermal conductivity
The thermal conductivity or heat conductivity of a material is a measure of how readily heat passes through it. Materials that allow heat to pass through them easily are called heat conductors. Materials that do not allow heat to pass through them easily are called heat insulators or poor heat conductors.

Cooking pots and frying pans are usually made of heat conductors like metals. The handles are usually made of heat insulators like wood or plastic.

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2.1 Physical Properties of Matter

Density
The density of a material is the quantity of matter packed into a unit volume of the material.

By comparing the densities of substances, we can predict whether one will float in the other.
Go to Workbook Link, Practical Book Link and Key Ideas (Page 29)

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Chapter 2 Exploring Diversity of Matter by Its Physical Properties

2.1 Physical Properties of Matter
2.2 Density

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2.2 Density
At the end of this section, you should be able to answer the following questions:

What is density?

How does density affect the floating and sinking of objects?

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2.2 Density
Lesson trigger
The Dead Sea is located between Israel and Jordan.

The Dead Sea has about eight times more salt dissolved in 1 cm3 of water than other seas. It is much denser and contains a higher concentration of salt compared to other bodies of water in the world. The higher concentration of salt in the Dead Sea makes it much easier to float in this sea than other seas.
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Go to Think and Explore (Page 30)

2.2 Density
Let us take a fresh chicken egg for example. How do we measure the density of a fresh chicken egg? Density is the quantity of matter packed into a unit volume. Density = Mass Volume

To measure the density of the egg, we need to first find its mass and volume.
Go to Link (Page 30)

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2.2 Density
Units of measurement
Measurements are expressed in two parts the numerical value and the unit.

The numerical value tells us how much there is of something.

21 metres 15 kilograms

The unit tells us the standard that we are comparing the value to. Measurements of different physical properties have different units.

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2.2 Density
Units of measurement
In order to establish common standards in measurement, scientists use the International System of Units, denoted by SI.
Today, SI units are the most widely used system of units in Science.

Physical quantity
Length Mass Temperature

SI unit
metre kilogram Kelvin

Symbol
m kg K

Time

second
What is a feet, a pint, an ounce or a mile? Click here for a video to learn more about these older imperial units.

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2.2 Density
Mass
A rod is suspended by a string tied at its centre. Let us see what happens when we hang two objects from the two ends of the rod.
What is it that makes the two objects balanced?

B
When the rod is horizontal, we say that the two objects balance each other.
Go to Link (Page 32)

B If objects A and B are switched around, they would still balance each other.

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2.2 Density
Mass
We know that something in Object A is exactly equal to something in Object B. That something is the quantity of matter.

Mass is a measure of the quantity of matter in a body.

The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg). Other units for mass are the gram (g), milligram (mg) and tonne (t).
Go to Take Note (Page 32)

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2.2 Density
Instruments for measuring mass
We use balances to measure mass. The different types of balances are shown below.
Most electronic balances can measure masses of up to 3,500 g.

Most triple-beam balances can measure masses of up to 610 g.

Most four-beam pan balances can measure masses of up to 311 g.

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2.2 Density
Length
Length is the distance between two specified points.
The SI unit of length is the metre (m). Other measurements of length include:
circumference thickness

height width

depth

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2.2 Density
Instruments for measuring length
Metre rule A metre rule is used to measure lengths of up to 1 m.

Go to Take Note (Page 34)

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2.2 Density
Instruments for measuring length
Measuring tape A measuring tape is used to measure lengths that are greater than 1 m or lengths that are curved.
A soft and flexible measuring tape is often used by tailors.

A retractable measuring tape is often used in construction or carpentry.

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2.2 Density
Instruments for measuring length
Vernier calipers Vernier calipers are used to measure short lengths and diameters of objects of up to 10 cm.

The smallest division on the vernier scale is 0.01 cm compared to 0.1 cm on the metre rule.
What does this say about vernier calipers compared to a metre rule?

Hence, vernier calipers give a more accurate measurement than a metre rule.

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2.2 Density
Instruments for measuring length
Vernier calipers
Inside jaws Measure the internal diameter of an object. Main scale Measures up to one decimal place. Tail Measures the depth of an object or hole.

Vernier scale Measures up to two decimal places.

Outside jaws Measure the external diameter or width of an object.

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Go to Practical Book Link (Page 35)

2.2 Density
Volume
Volume is the amount of space an object occupies. The SI unit of mass is the cubic metre (m3). Other unit for mass are the cubic centimetre (cm3), litre (l) and millilitre (ml).
How does the properties of different materials make them suitable to serve different functions? Click here for a game on building materials .

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2.2 Density
Volume Volume of liquids
A measuring cylinder can be used to measure the volume of liquids. In narrow glass measuring cylinders, the liquid level is curved into a shaped called the meniscus from which the reading is taken.

How do we take a reading from the meniscus?

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2.2 Density
Volume Volume of liquids

For most liquids such as water, the meniscus curves down towards the centre.

Go to Take Note (Page 36)

Go to Science Bites (Page 36)

To avoid parallax error, place your eyes at the same level as the bottom of the meniscus.

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2.2 Density
Volume Volume of regular solids
We can measure the volume of regularly shaped solids by using formulae involving measurements of different lengths.
Key: l = length b = breadth h = height r = radius = 3.142

l b l Cuboid Volume = l b h

Cube Volume = l l l

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2.2 Density
Volume Volume of regular solids

r r

r Cylinder
2 Volume = p r h

Sphere 4 Volume = p r 3 3

Cone 1 Volume = p r 2h 3

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2.2 Density
Volume Volume of irregular solids
The volume of an irregular solid can be measured by the displacement of a liquid. In this method, we use a measuring cylinder to measure the volume of an irregular solid. The volume of the displaced liquid is equal to the volume of the solid.

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2.2 Density
Floating and sinking
Density, not weight, determines whether objects sink or float. When an object is placed in a medium, it will sink if is denser than the medium.

However, if the object is less dense than the medium, it will float.
Go to Take Note (Page 37) Go to Science Bites (Page 37)

wooden block

water

paper clip

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2.2 Density
Floating and sinking
So what can you do to ensure you will float in water?

Your body is denser than water. So you will normally sink in water.

However, in the Dead Sea, most people will be able to float easily as their bodies are less dense than the seawater. This is because the water in the Dead Sea has a high density of about 1.24 kg/l due to its unusually high salt concentration.

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2.2 Density
Floating and sinking
By comparing the densities of common substances in the table below, you can predict which will sink or float when the substances are combined.
Substance Teak wood Density (g/cm3) 0.85 Substance Aluminium Density (g/cm3) 2.7

Ice
Cooking oil Water Rubber Sand
Go to Workbook Link and Practical Book Link (Page 38)

0.92
0.95 1.00 1.52 1.6

Diamond
Lead Mercury Gold Platinum

3.5
11.3 13.6 19.3 21.4

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Map It
Materials
are classified into

Metals

Glass

Plastics
differ by their

Ceramics

Fibres

Physical properties
such as

determine the choice of materials in the production of

everyday objects

Flexibility

Melting point

Strength

Thermal conductivity

Hardness

Boiling point

Electrical conductivity

Density

(contd on next slide)

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(contd on next slide)

Map It
is calculated by the formula
can be

Measured Density =

Mass Volume

(SI unit: g/cm3) Length

measured by

Volume
measured by

Mass
measured by determines

Metre rule, measuring tape, vernier calipers

Measuring cylinder and/or displacement can

Beam balance, electronic balance

Whether a substance floats or sinks

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Chapter 2 Exploring Diversity of Matter by Its Physical Properties

Go to Get it Right (Page 40) Go to Lets Review (pages 40- 41) Go to Science Today (Page 42) Click here for a mini quiz on the physical properties of materials.

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Find Out More!

Polyurethanes are organic materials that expand to fill up a given space when mixed with certain substances. They have excellent insulating properties. Hence, they are typically used in spray foam insulation to protect buildings against heat loss or heat gain. Spray foam insulation saves energy costs as the need for heating systems or air-conditioning is reduced.
Click here for more info on building insulation. How does buildings lose heat and what are some ways to reduce heat loss?

polyurethane spray foam

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