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Materials Around Us

Chapter 6. Materials Around Us

Everything around us is made of one or more materials. The objects we use every day, such as books, tables, bottles, utensils, clothes, toys, and vehicles, are made from different materials according to their properties. Understanding the characteristics of materials helps us choose the right material for a particular purpose. This chapter introduces the concept of materials, their classification, physical properties, and the basic idea of matter.

CBSE Notes - Key Points

The following notes provide important definitions, scientific terms, key concepts, and revision points from the chapter. These notes are useful for quick revision before school examinations and CBSE assessments.

Important Keywords

• Material
• Matter
• Classification
• Lustre
• Lustrous Material
• Non-Lustrous Material
• Hard Material
• Soft Material
• Transparent Material
• Translucent Material
• Opaque Material
• Soluble Substance
• Insoluble Substance
• Mass
• Volume
• Kilogram (kg)
• Gram (g)
• Litre (L)
• Millilitre (mL)
• Physical Properties

Important Definitions

Material: A material is any substance that is used to make an object.

Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space is called matter.

Classification: The process of grouping materials according to their similar properties.

Lustre: The shiny appearance of a material is called lustre.

Hard Material: A material that cannot be scratched or compressed easily.

Soft Material: A material that can be scratched or compressed easily.

Transparent Material: A material that allows almost all light to pass through it.

Translucent Material: A material that allows only some light to pass through it.

Opaque Material: A material that does not allow light to pass through it.

Soluble Substance: A substance that dissolves completely in water.

Insoluble Substance: A substance that does not dissolve in water.

Mass: The quantity of matter present in an object.

Volume: The space occupied by an object.

Scientific Terms

Scientific Term	Description
Material	A substance used for making objects.
Matter	Anything that has mass and occupies space.
Lustre	Shiny appearance of a material.
Mass	Amount of matter present in an object.
Volume	Space occupied by an object.
Transparent	Allows light to pass completely.
Translucent	Allows only partial light to pass.
Opaque	Does not allow light to pass.
Solubility	Ability of a substance to dissolve in water.

Important Facts

• Everything around us is made of matter.
• An object may be made from one or more materials.
• Materials are selected according to their properties.
• Classification makes the study of materials simple and systematic.
• Metals are generally lustrous.
• Wood, paper and rubber are usually non-lustrous.
• Stone and iron are hard materials.
• Sponge and cotton are soft materials.
• Glass, air and clean water are transparent.
• Butter paper and frosted glass are translucent.
• Wood, brick and metals are opaque.
• Sugar and salt are soluble in water.
• Sand, chalk powder and sawdust are insoluble in water.
• Mass is measured in kilograms and grams.
• Volume of liquids is measured in litres and millilitres.
• Every material occupies space.
• Every material has mass.
• The properties of materials determine their uses.

Examples of Material Properties

Property	Example
Lustrous	Gold, Copper
Non-Lustrous	Wood, Paper
Hard	Stone, Iron
Soft	Cotton, Sponge
Transparent	Glass, Water
Translucent	Butter Paper
Opaque	Wood, Brick
Soluble	Sugar, Salt
Insoluble	Sand, Chalk Powder

Quick Revision

• Everything around us is made of matter.
• Materials are chosen according to their properties.
• Objects may be made from one or more materials.
• Classification makes the study of materials easier.
• Lustrous materials have a shiny surface.
• Hard materials resist scratching.
• Soft materials are easily compressed.
• Transparent materials allow light to pass through.
• Translucent materials allow only partial light.
• Opaque materials block light completely.
• Sugar and salt dissolve in water.
• Sand and chalk powder do not dissolve in water.
• Mass is measured in kilograms.
• Volume is the space occupied by matter.
• Every material has both mass and volume.

Materials Around Us

Chapter 6. Materials Around Us

Everything around us is made of one or more materials. Different materials have different properties, which make them useful for different purposes. This chapter explains the types and properties of materials used in our daily life.

Detailed Notes

Materials

Material: A material is a substance used to make an object.

Examples of Materials

(i) Wood

(ii) Plastic

(iii) Glass

(iv) Iron

(v) Cotton

Examples of Objects and Their Materials

(i) Chair – Wood or Plastic

(ii) Bottle – Plastic or Glass

(iii) Spoon – Steel

(iv) Shirt – Cotton

(v) Window – Glass

Classification of Materials

Classification of Materials: Grouping materials according to their common properties is called classification of materials.

Advantages of Classification

(i) Makes the study of materials easy.

(ii) Helps compare different materials.

(iii) Makes identification simple.

(iv) Helps choose suitable materials for different purposes.

Properties of Materials

Properties of Materials: The special features that help us identify and use materials are called their properties.

Main Properties

(i) Appearance (Lustre)

(ii) Hardness

(iii) Transparency

(iv) Solubility in Water

(v) Mass

(vi) Volume

Appearance (Lustre)

Lustre: The shiny appearance of a material is called lustre.

Lustrous Materials

(i) Gold

(ii) Silver

(iii) Copper

(iv) Aluminium

(v) Iron

Non-Lustrous Materials

(i) Wood

(ii) Paper

(iii) Cotton

(iv) Rubber

Hardness

Hardness: Hardness is the property that tells whether a material is hard or soft.

Hard Materials

(i) Stone

(ii) Iron

(iii) Steel

(iv) Glass

Soft Materials

(i) Sponge

(ii) Cotton

(iii) Rubber

(iv) Clay

Key Points

(i) Every object is made of one or more materials.

(ii) Materials are grouped according to their properties.

(iii) Lustrous materials have a shiny surface.

(iv) Hard materials cannot be scratched easily.

(v) Soft materials can be pressed or cut easily.

Transparency

Transparency: Transparency is the property of a material that allows light to pass through it.

Types of Materials Based on Transparency

(i) Transparent Materials

(ii) Translucent Materials

(iii) Opaque Materials

Transparent Materials

Transparent Materials: Materials that allow almost all light to pass through them are called transparent materials.

Examples of Transparent Materials

(i) Glass

(ii) Clean Water

(iii) Air

Characteristics of Transparent Materials

(i) Allow light to pass through.

(ii) Objects can be seen clearly.

Translucent Materials

Translucent Materials: Materials that allow only some light to pass through them are called translucent materials.

Examples of Translucent Materials

(i) Butter Paper

(ii) Frosted Glass

(iii) Thin Plastic Sheet

Characteristics of Translucent Materials

(i) Allow only a little light to pass through.

(ii) Objects appear blurred.

Opaque Materials

Opaque Materials: Materials that do not allow light to pass through them are called opaque materials.

Examples of Opaque Materials

(i) Wood

(ii) Brick

(iii) Metal Sheet

(iv) Cardboard

Characteristics of Opaque Materials

(i) Do not allow light to pass through.

(ii) Objects cannot be seen through them.

Solubility in Water

Solubility: Solubility is the property of a substance to dissolve in water.

Soluble Substances

(i) Sugar

(ii) Salt

(iii) Glucose

Insoluble Substances

(i) Sand

(ii) Chalk Powder

(iii) Sawdust

(iv) Stone Dust

Mass

Mass: Mass is the amount of matter present in an object.

Units of Mass

(i) Kilogram (kg)

(ii) Gram (g)

Examples

(i) A watermelon is measured in kilograms.

(ii) A chocolate is measured in grams.

Volume

Volume: Volume is the amount of space occupied by an object.

Units of Volume

(i) Litre (L)

(ii) Millilitre (mL)

Examples

(i) Milk is measured in litres.

(ii) Medicine is measured in millilitres.

Key Points

(i) Transparent materials allow light to pass completely.

(ii) Translucent materials allow only some light to pass.

(iii) Opaque materials do not allow light to pass.

(iv) Sugar and salt are soluble in water.

(v) Sand and chalk powder are insoluble in water.

(vi) Mass is measured in kilograms and grams.

(vii) Volume is measured in litres and millilitres.

Matter

Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space is called matter.

Examples of Matter

(i) Air

(ii) Water

(iii) Stone

(iv) Wood

(v) Iron

Characteristics of Matter

(i) Has mass.

(ii) Occupies space.

(iii) Exists all around us.

Importance of Material Properties

Importance of Material Properties: The properties of a material help us choose the right material for a particular use.

Property	Application
Transparency	Windows and spectacles
Hardness	Tools and construction
Lustre	Jewellery and decoration
Waterproof Nature	Raincoats and umbrellas
Solubility	Medicines and food preparation

Applications of Materials in Daily Life

Applications of Materials: Different materials are used for different purposes according to their properties.

Common Uses of Materials

(i) Making furniture.

(ii) Manufacturing utensils.

(iii) Building houses and bridges.

(iv) Preparing medicines.

(v) Making sports equipment.

(vi) Producing transparent windows.

(vii) Making waterproof products.

Choosing the Right Material

Choosing the Right Material: The choice of a material depends on its properties and the purpose for which it is used.

Examples

(i) Glass is used for windows because it is transparent.

(ii) Iron is used for tools because it is hard and strong.

(iii) Cotton is used for clothes because it is soft and comfortable.

(iv) Plastic is used for bottles because it is light and waterproof.

Quick Revision

(i) Every object is made from one or more materials.

(ii) Materials are classified according to their properties.

(iii) Lustrous materials have a shiny surface.

(iv) Hard materials resist scratching, while soft materials can be pressed easily.

(v) Transparent materials allow light to pass through completely.

(vi) Translucent materials allow only some light to pass.

(vii) Opaque materials do not allow light to pass.

(viii) Sugar and salt are soluble in water.

(ix) Sand and chalk powder are insoluble in water.

(x) Mass is measured in kilograms and grams.

(xi) Volume is measured in litres and millilitres.

(xii) Matter has mass and occupies space.

(xiii) The properties of materials decide their uses.

Materials Around Us

Chapter 6. Materials Around Us

This assignment is based on the concepts covered in the chapter Materials Around Us. It includes objective, subjective, competency-based, case study, and Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions prepared according to the latest CBSE pattern. Students should attempt all questions independently to strengthen their understanding and improve analytical skills.

Assignments - What Have You Learned?

Attempt all the following questions without referring to the textbook. These questions will help you revise the complete chapter and prepare effectively for examinations.

Test Your Learning

Fill in the Blanks

1. Every object around us is made of one or more __________.
2. The process of grouping materials based on their properties is called __________.
3. Materials having a shiny surface are called __________ materials.
4. Glass is a __________ material.
5. Wood is an __________ material.
6. Sugar is __________ in water.
7. Sand is __________ in water.
8. The SI unit of mass is __________.
9. The space occupied by a material is called __________.
10. Anything that has mass and occupies space is called __________.

True or False

1. All objects are made from only one material.
2. Metals are generally lustrous.
3. Butter paper is a transparent material.
4. Wood is an opaque material.
5. Salt dissolves completely in water.
6. Sponge is a hard material.
7. Every material has mass.
8. Volume is the amount of matter present in an object.
9. Classification helps us study materials more easily.
10. Air is a form of matter.

Match the Following

Column A	Column B
Lustrous Material	Gold
Transparent Material	Glass
Opaque Material	Wood
Soluble Substance	Sugar
SI Unit of Mass	Kilogram

One Word Answer

1. A substance used to make an object.
2. The shiny appearance of a material.
3. A material through which light passes completely.
4. A substance that dissolves in water.
5. The amount of matter present in an object.
6. The space occupied by an object.
7. The SI unit of mass.
8. Anything having mass and occupying space.
9. A hard, lustrous metal commonly used in utensils.
10. The process of grouping similar materials.

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is a material?
2. What is matter?
3. Define lustre.
4. What are hard materials?
5. What are soft materials?
6. Define transparent material.
7. What is a soluble substance?
8. What is mass?
9. What is volume?
10. Why do we classify materials?

Short Answer Questions

1. Differentiate between lustrous and non-lustrous materials with examples.
2. Differentiate between hard and soft materials.
3. Differentiate between transparent, translucent, and opaque materials.
4. Explain soluble and insoluble substances with suitable examples.
5. Why is classification of materials important?
6. Explain the concept of matter.
7. Differentiate between mass and volume.
8. Why are different materials used for making different objects?
9. Explain any four properties of materials.
10. Write any four applications of different material properties in daily life.

Long Answer Questions

1. Explain the different properties of materials with suitable examples.
2. Describe the classification of materials and explain why it is important.
3. Explain the concepts of matter, mass, and volume in detail.
4. Discuss the practical applications of material properties in daily life.
5. Explain how the properties of materials help scientists, engineers, and manufacturers select suitable materials for different purposes.

Case Study Based Questions

Case Study: During a science activity, Riya collected different objects such as a glass tumbler, a wooden block, a sponge, a steel spoon, sugar, and sand. She observed that some materials were shiny, some allowed light to pass through, some dissolved in water, while others did not.

1. Which object among these is transparent?
2. Which material is lustrous?
3. Which substance dissolves completely in water?
4. Which material is soft?
5. Why is it useful to classify these materials according to their properties?

Competency Based Questions

1. Observe ten objects available in your classroom and classify them as hard or soft.
2. Collect five household materials and classify them as transparent, translucent, or opaque.
3. Perform a simple activity to identify soluble and insoluble substances using water and record your observations.
4. Prepare a table showing different objects used at home and the materials from which they are made.
5. Identify five objects made from more than one material and explain why different materials are used.

HOTS Questions (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

1. Why is glass used for windows while wood is not? Explain using the properties of materials.
2. Imagine that all materials around you were transparent. What problems would people face in everyday life?
3. Why is it important for engineers to study the properties of materials before constructing buildings or machines?
4. A raincoat and a cotton shirt are used in different weather conditions. Explain why they are made of different materials.
5. Suppose scientists discover a new material that is transparent, very hard, lightweight, and waterproof. Suggest five possible applications of this material in daily life.