Lesson T4.1.1

T4.1.1 Properties of materials Quiz: KS3 Design & Technology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T4.1.1, Properties of materials: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Design & Technology (National Curriculum), Unit 4: Technical knowledge, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What does hardness describe in a material?

    • How easily it conducts electricity when a voltage is applied across it
    • Its ability to be stretched into a thin wire without breaking under the load
    • Its resistance to being scratched, dented or indented by another material
    • How much it weighs for each cubic centimetre of its volume

  2. Which property describes a material's ability to be hammered or bent into a new shape and keep that shape?

    • Malleability, the ability to be shaped by hammering or rolling
    • Transparency, the ability to let light pass through the material without scattering
    • Conductivity, the ability to let electric current flow through the material
    • Elasticity, the ability to return to its original shape after being stretched

  3. What is toughness in a material?

    • Its ability to be bent a long way before it snaps in two under a steady load
    • Its ability to return to its original shape once the force acting on it is removed
    • Its ability to absorb energy and resist breaking when it is struck or bent suddenly
    • Its ability to be stretched into a thin wire without losing its strength or shape

  4. Which property describes how easily heat passes through a material?

    • Thermal conductivity, the rate at which heat travels through a material
    • Ductility, the ability of a material to be drawn out into a thin wire
    • Porosity, the amount of tiny holes or gaps that are within a material
    • Density, the mass of a material for each unit of its volume

  5. Which material is a good electrical conductor and is widely used for electrical wires?

    • Polystyrene foam, which traps air and is used to keep heat in a container
    • Copper, which has very low resistance to the flow of electric current
    • Rubber, which is a poor conductor and is often used as an electrical insulator
    • Glass, which is transparent and is often used to make windows in buildings

  6. A kettle handle should stay cool to touch. Which material property is most important for the handle?

    • It is very dense, so the handle feels heavy and solid when it is lifted
    • It is a good thermal conductor, so heat spreads evenly across the handle for the user
    • It is a poor thermal conductor, so heat from the water does not reach the handle quickly
    • It is highly flexible, so the handle bends slightly when the kettle is lifted

  7. Which description best fits a brittle material?

    • It can be stretched into a thin wire without losing its strength or shape
    • It returns to its original shape as soon as the force that acted on it is removed
    • It cracks or shatters with little or no bending before it breaks
    • It can be bent a long way before it finally snaps in two under a steady load

  8. What does density measure?

    • The mass of a material for each unit of its volume
    • The force needed to scratch the surface of the material with a sharp point
    • The amount of heat energy needed to raise the material's temperature by one degree
    • The distance a material stretches when a fixed load is applied to one end

  9. A designer needs a phone case material that resists scratches. Which property matters most?

    • Ductility, the ability of a material to be drawn out into a long thin wire
    • Hardness, the resistance of a surface to scratching or indentation
    • Density, the mass of a material in a given volume of that material
    • Thermal conductivity, the rate at which heat passes through a material's structure

  10. A student bends a metal rod and it stays bent. Which property is shown?

    • Thermal expansion, where the rod becomes longer when it is heated by a flame
    • Electrical resistance, where the rod slows down the flow of electric current through it
    • Plastic deformation, where the material changes shape permanently when a force is applied
    • Elastic deformation, where the rod returns to its original shape once the force is removed

  11. A weight is dropped onto a material and it absorbs the impact without breaking. Which property is shown?

    • Porosity, the presence of small holes or spaces spread throughout the material
    • Toughness, the ability to absorb energy from a sudden impact without fracturing
    • Hardness, the resistance of the surface to scratches and dents from other materials
    • Transparency, the ability of the material to let light pass through without distortion

  12. Why are oven gloves made from materials with low thermal conductivity?

    • They are made from very dense material so that they cannot be lifted by the hand
    • They allow heat to spread quickly so that the hand warms up evenly during use
    • They conduct electricity well so that they can be used safely with electric ovens
    • They slow the passage of heat so that the hand is protected from high temperatures

  13. A bicycle frame needs to be light but strong. Which comparison should the designer consider?

    • The colour of the material compared with the price per kilogram of the metal
    • The strength of the material compared with its weight, often called the strength to weight ratio
    • The transparency of the material compared with its melting point in degrees
    • The electrical conductivity of the material compared with its hardness on a scale

  14. Which material would be most suitable for the transparent roof of a greenhouse?

    • Glass, because it is transparent and lets light reach the plants inside
    • Steel, because it is transparent and strong enough to resist strong winds
    • Wood, because it is opaque and blocks light from reaching the plants underneath
    • Rubber, because it is flexible and keeps heat from escaping through the roof

  15. A product for outdoor use must not soak up rain. Which property best describes this need?

    • Magnetism, meaning the material is attracted strongly to a magnet placed nearby
    • Water resistance, meaning the material does not absorb water easily
    • Thermal conductivity, meaning the material passes heat through it quickly
    • Ductility, meaning the material can be pulled out into a thin wire without breaking

  16. Aluminium is often used for cooking pans even though steel is stronger. Why?

    • Aluminium is cheaper than every other metal and is never recycled after use in homes
    • Aluminium is a poor conductor, so food cools down quickly after it has been cooked
    • Aluminium is harder than steel, so it will never scratch when used with metal utensils
    • Aluminium is lighter and conducts heat well, so the pan is easy to handle and heats evenly

  17. A material has high density, high hardness and poor thermal conductivity. Which everyday example best fits?

    • A cotton towel that is light, soft and absorbs water quickly from the surface
    • A ceramic floor tile that is heavy, resists scratching and does not conduct heat well
    • A steel spoon that is light, flexible and conducts heat away from the hand quickly
    • A copper wire that is light, bends easily and conducts heat and electricity very well

  18. Why does a metal spoon left in a hot drink quickly become hot at the handle?

    • Metal has high thermal conductivity, so heat travels along the spoon to the handle quickly
    • Plastic traps heat inside its structure, so the handle of a metal spoon stays cool
    • Plastic is a good conductor but absorbs the heat from the drink before the handle warms
    • Metal has low hardness, so heat moves through the spoon by spreading out sideways

  19. Which test would best show how elastic a rubber band is?

    • Weigh a fixed length of it and compare the result with the weight of a metal bar
    • Scratch its surface with a metal point and record how deep the mark becomes
    • Heat it in warm water and measure how much its colour changes over several minutes
    • Stretch it with increasing loads and check whether it returns to its original length each time

  20. Material A has a higher tensile strength but lower toughness than material B. Which statement is correct?

    • Material A can carry more pulling force before it breaks, but may shatter more easily under sudden impact
    • Material A is always cheaper to buy than material B because it is less tough in use
    • Material B can carry more pulling force before it breaks and always resists impact better
    • Material A absorbs more energy from impacts before it breaks than material B does

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