Lesson T2.2.1

T2.2.1 Properties of a wide range of materials Quiz: KS3 Design & Technology, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T2.2.1, Properties of a wide range of materials: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Design & Technology (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Make, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is a material's 'hardness'?

    • How much light it lets through when it is held up to a bright window light
    • Its resistance to being scratched, dented or indented
    • How easily it bends when a heavy load is applied to it in a test
    • How much it weighs for its size compared with other similar materials

  2. Which property describes how well a material bends without breaking?

    • Conductivity
    • Density
    • Flexibility
    • Hardness

  3. What does 'toughness' describe?

    • The ability to absorb energy and resist breaking under a sudden impact
    • How quickly a material melts and runs when it is heated in a hot furnace
    • How much a material costs per kilogram to buy from a supplier each year
    • How easily a material can be painted in several bright colours for a display

  4. Which material is a good electrical conductor?

    • Copper
    • Polythene
    • Rubber
    • Glass

  5. Which material is a good thermal insulator?

    • Solid copper electrical wire
    • Structural steel plate
    • Expanded polystyrene
    • Aluminium sheet metal

  6. What is a 'thermoplastic'?

    • A wood that is treated with heat to make it stronger and harder for use
    • A plastic that softens when heated and can be reshaped
    • A plastic that becomes permanently hard and set once it is heated
    • A metal that is made from recycled plastic bottles in a factory

  7. Which material is a thermosetting plastic?

    • Polystyrene or PVC
    • Nylon or polypropylene
    • Melamine or Bakelite
    • Polythene or acrylic

  8. Why is timber used in construction?

    • It does not change shape at all under a heavy load in any situation
    • It is always fully waterproof without any treatment at all in use
    • It is cheaper than every other material in every single case that is used
    • It has a good strength-to-weight ratio and can be easily worked

  9. What is the grain of timber?

    • The weight of the wood per cubic metre when it is measured in a lab
    • The direction of the fibres that run through the wood
    • The colour pattern printed on the surface of the wood board
    • The number of coats of varnish applied to it during finishing

  10. Why is aluminium a common choice for lightweight products?

    • It is strong for its low density and resists corrosion
    • It is much heavier than steel for the same size of part in use
    • It rusts quickly in normal indoor conditions in a damp classroom
    • It cannot be shaped or cut at all with the usual workshop tools

  11. What is the density of a material?

    • Its cost per unit of volume
    • Its temperature per unit of time
    • Its length per unit of mass
    • Its mass per unit volume

  12. A block of material has a mass of 60 g and a volume of 20 cm cubed. What is its density?

    • 1200 g per cm cubed
    • 3 g per cm cubed
    • 40 g per cm cubed
    • 0.33 g per cm cubed

  13. Which property makes a material good for a spring?

    • Conductivity, so it carries electricity very well through the wires used
    • Opacity, so it blocks all light completely when fitted into the frame
    • Elasticity, so it returns to its original shape after being stretched
    • Brittleness, so it snaps suddenly when it is stretched or pulled in a test

  14. What is a composite material?

    • A material found only in nature in a single natural form and colour
    • A material that cannot be shaped in any way by hand or by machine
    • A material made from two or more different materials combined
    • A material made from a single pure element with no other additions at all

  15. Why is glass used in windows?

    • It is an excellent electrical conductor for use in circuits
    • It is soft and easily scratched by rain and dust in the air
    • It is flexible and bends easily under the force of the wind
    • It is transparent and allows light to pass through

  16. Which material is most suitable for a waterproof outdoor product?

    • Untreated softwood
    • Polypropylene
    • Blotting paper
    • Cotton fabric without a coating

  17. What does brittle mean for a material?

    • It stretches a very long way before it finally fails under any load
    • It melts easily in warm conditions in a room with the heating on
    • It absorbs large amounts of water quickly when it is left out
    • It breaks suddenly with little bending when put under stress

  18. A product needs a material that is hard and resists wear. Which is most suitable?

    • Expanded foam packaging material
    • Soft cotton fabric for clothing
    • Hardened tool steel
    • Thin tissue paper for wrapping

  19. Why might a designer choose recycled material?

    • It is always much stronger than any new material used in the product
    • It removes the need to check any of the material's properties before use
    • It makes the whole product much more expensive for buyers in local shops
    • It can reduce waste and the environmental impact of making the product

  20. Which property would a material need to be used as a kettle body?

    • Transparency so it lets all light pass through the whole of the body
    • Brittleness so it shatters easily when it is heated during use
    • Heat resistance so it does not soften or melt in use
    • Flexibility so it bends when water is poured into the container

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