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Materials and Their Properties
Quick questions on Mechanical and physical properties of materials explained: O-Level Design and Technology
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is strength is not the same as toughness?Show answer
A common confusion is treating strong and tough as the same. Strength is resisting a load; toughness is absorbing impact. A material can be strong but brittle: cast iron carries heavy static loads (strong) yet cracks under a sharp blow (not tough). Glass is strong under steady pressure but shatters on impact.
What are relating properties to design choices?Show answer
Every material choice is a property matched to a requirement. A cutting edge needs hardness; a hammer head needs toughness; a spring needs elasticity; an electrical wire needs conductivity and ductility; a portable frame needs low density and adequate strength. Justifying a choice means naming the property and linking it to what the product must do.
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