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Year 8 - Design and technology

Metal properties, sources and stock forms

Material testing

Unit Summary

This unit will develop pupils' knowledge of the physical and working properties of materials. They will compare material properties through testing, with a focus on metals. The environmental and social impact of materials will also be introduced.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe where different materials come from and identify their common stock forms.

Key Notes

Raw materials need to be sourced and processed into a useable form.
Metals are sourced from the earth as ores, which are mined, extracted, and processed into usable materials.
Metals are categorised as ferrous, non-ferrous, or alloys.
Processed metals are formed into standard stock forms.
Metal properties such as strength, ductility and conductivity determine their suitability for different products.

Vocabulary To Learn

metal: a shiny, solid material
properties: the characteristics of a material that determine how it looks, feels, and behaves when used
stock form: the standard shapes and sizes in which materials like metals are supplied

Common Mistakes To Avoid

All metals have similar properties.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Raw materials need to be sourced and processed into a useable form. Metals are sourced from the earth as ores, which are mined, extracted, and processed into usable materials.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'metal'

a shiny, solid material.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: All metals have similar properties. Correction: When metals are grouped into ferrous, non-ferrous, and alloy metals, their properties are different.

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