Using resources

• What are ceramics made from?

  Non-metal solids with high melting points
• How can clay be shaped before it hardens?

  It is soft when dug from the ground
• What happens to clay when it is fired at high temperatures?

  It hardens to form a clay ceramic
• Why is clay ideal for making pottery and bricks?

  It can be moulded when wet and hardened
• What is a common characteristic of glass?

  It is generally transparent
• What is soda-lime glass made from?

  A mixture of limestone, sand, and sodium carbonate
• What is the melting point characteristic of borosilicate glass?

  It has a higher melting point than soda-lime glass
• What are composites made of?

  One material embedded in another
• What is the role of the matrix in composites?

  It acts as a binder for the reinforcement
• What are the properties of fibreglass?

  • Low density like plastic
  • Very strong like glass
  • Used for skis, boats, and surfboards
• What are carbon fibre composites used for?

  • Aerospace manufacturing
  • Sports car manufacturing
  • Very strong and light
• What is concrete made from?

  Aggregate embedded in cement
• What is wood considered in terms of composites?

  A natural composite of cellulose fibres
• What influences the properties of a polymer?

  How it's made and what it's made from
• What is low density (LD) poly(ethene) used for?

  Bags and bottles
• How is high density (HD) poly(ethene) made?

  At lower temperature and pressure with a catalyst
• What are thermosoftening polymers?

  Polymers that can be melted and remoulded
• What are thermosetting polymers?

  Polymers that form cross-links and are rigid
• What is the main property of metals?

  They are malleable and good conductors
• What is the purpose of alloys?

  To make metals harder than pure metals
• What is bronze made from?

  Copper and tin
• Why is brass used in water taps?

  It is more malleable than bronze
• What is the significance of 18 carat gold?

  It is 75% pure gold
• Why are aluminium alloys used in aircraft?

  They are stronger than pure aluminium
• What is corrosion?

  Metals reacting and gradually being destroyed
• What is rust?

  Hydrated iron(III) oxide
• What conditions are needed for iron to rust?

  Contact with both oxygen and water
• What happens to iron when it rusts?

  It forms a soft crumbly solid that flakes off
• How does aluminium differ in corrosion compared to iron?

  Aluminium forms a protective layer that stops corrosion
• What are the two main ways to prevent rusting?

  1. Coating with a barrier (paint, plastic, electroplating)
  2. Sacrificial method (using a more reactive metal)
• What are natural resources?

  Resources that form without human input
• What are finite resources?

  Resources that aren't formed quickly enough to be replaced
• What is fractional distillation used for?

  To produce usable products from crude oil
• What insights can tables, charts, and graphs provide about resources?

  • Help interpret resource information
  • Compare energy density and formation time
  • Identify renewable vs. finite resources
• How can you determine if a resource is renewable or finite from a table?

  By comparing the time it takes to reform
• What does the energy density indicate about a resource?

  How much energy it can provide per unit
• What is the energy density range for timber?

  23000-26000 MJ/m²
• What is the energy density range for coal?

  7600-11400 MJ/m²
• What are renewable materials?

  Materials that can be replenished naturally
• What is the energy density range for coal?

  23,000-26,000 MJ/m²