Chapter 6: Materials Around Us
6th StandardScience
Chapter Summary
Materials Around Us - Chapter Summary
# Materials Around Us
## Overview
This chapter helps students explore the materials that make up the world around us. It introduces the concept of materials, how objects can be classified based on their properties, and the basic understanding of matter. Through observations, group activities, and experiments, learners understand the significance of materials in daily life and the rationale behind their selection for different uses.
---
## Key Topics Covered
### 1. Observing Objects Around Us
* Everything around us is made up of materials like paper, wood, glass, metal, plastic, clay, etc.
* **Material**: Any substance used to make an object.
* **Activity**: Students list down objects and their materials (e.g., pen - plastic and metal).
---
### 2. How to Group Materials?
* **Classification**: Grouping objects based on common properties like shape, colour, hardness, etc.
* Same material can be used to make different objects, and vice versa.
* **Activity**: Group objects in a picture based on chosen properties.
---
### 3. Choosing the Right Material
* Materials are selected based on their properties and the purpose of the object.
* One object (e.g., a pen) can have parts made from different materials.
* **Activity**: Think of different materials that can be used to make a tumbler. Not all are suitable (e.g., cloth cannot hold water).
---
### 4. Properties of Materials
#### a. Appearance (Lustrous and Non-Lustrous)
* **Lustrous**: Shiny materials (mostly metals like iron, copper, aluminium).
* **Non-Lustrous**: Dull materials (paper, wood, rubber, jute).
#### b. Hardness
* **Hard**: Cannot be easily scratched or compressed (e.g., stone, iron).
* **Soft**: Can be easily compressed or scratched (e.g., sponge, rubber).
#### c. Transparency
* **Transparent**: Can see clearly through (glass, air).
* **Translucent**: Can see but not clearly (butter paper, frosted glass).
* **Opaque**: Cannot see through (wood, metal).
---
### 5. Solubility in Water
* **Soluble**: Materials that dissolve in water (sugar, salt).
* **Insoluble**: Do not dissolve in water (sand, chalk powder, sawdust).
* **Activity**: Mixing different substances in water to observe results.
---
### 6. Mixing Liquids and Gases in Water
* Some liquids like vinegar and honey mix with water, while others like oil do not.
* Some gases like oxygen dissolve in water, which helps aquatic life survive.
---
### 7. Heaviness or Lightness (Mass)
* **Mass**: The quantity of matter in an object.
* Heavier objects have more mass.
* **Activity**: Compare weights of cups filled with different materials (water, sand, pebbles).
---
### 8. Volume and Space
* **Volume**: The space occupied by an object or substance.
* Measured in litres (L) or millilitres (mL).
* **Activity**: Compare the volume of water in different containers.
---
### 9. Understanding Matter
* **Matter**: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
* All materials are forms of matter.
* Units:
* Mass → gram (g), kilogram (kg)
* Volume → litre (L), millilitre (mL), cubic metre (m³)
---
### 10. Summary Points
* Objects are made from one or multiple materials.
* Materials are grouped for convenience and better understanding.
* Properties like hardness, transparency, solubility, and appearance help in classification.
* Matter has mass and volume—this includes solids, liquids, and gases.
---
## New Terms and Simple Definitions
| Term | Definition |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Material | A substance used to make things |
| Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space |
| Mass | The amount of matter in an object |
| Volume | The space that something occupies |
| Lustrous | Shiny in appearance |
| Non-lustrous | Not shiny or dull |
| Hard | Difficult to compress or scratch |
| Soft | Easy to compress or scratch |
| Transparent | Can see through clearly |
| Translucent | Can see through, but not clearly |
| Opaque | Cannot see through |
| Soluble | Able to dissolve in water |
| Insoluble | Not able to dissolve in water |
| Classification | Grouping based on similarities in properties |
---
## Practice Questions
### Easy (3)
1. **What is meant by a material?**
→ A material is a substance used to make an object.
2. **Name any two transparent materials.**
→ Glass, air.
3. **Is chalk soluble in water?**
→ No, chalk is insoluble in water.
---
### Medium (2)
4. **Why is glass used for windows and not wood?**
→ Because glass is transparent and allows light to pass through, while wood is opaque.
5. **What property makes metal suitable for making cooking utensils?**
→ Metal is hard, lustrous, and can conduct heat well.
---
### Difficult (3)
6. **Classify the following materials as soluble or insoluble: sugar, sand, salt, sawdust.**
→ Soluble: sugar, salt; Insoluble: sand, sawdust.
7. **How do you know whether a material is hard or soft?**
→ By trying to press or scratch it—hard ones resist pressure, soft ones are easily compressed.
8. **Give one example each for transparent, translucent and opaque materials.**
→ Transparent: glass; Translucent: butter paper; Opaque: wood.
---
### Very Difficult (2)
9. **A ball made of rubber bounces higher than a cotton ball. Why?**
→ Because rubber has elastic properties and is less soft than cotton, helping it to bounce more.
10. **If a material has mass but does not occupy any space, is it matter? Why or why not?**
→ No, because for something to be matter, it must have both mass and volume.
---
## Overview
This chapter helps students explore the materials that make up the world around us. It introduces the concept of materials, how objects can be classified based on their properties, and the basic understanding of matter. Through observations, group activities, and experiments, learners understand the significance of materials in daily life and the rationale behind their selection for different uses.
---
## Key Topics Covered
### 1. Observing Objects Around Us
* Everything around us is made up of materials like paper, wood, glass, metal, plastic, clay, etc.
* **Material**: Any substance used to make an object.
* **Activity**: Students list down objects and their materials (e.g., pen - plastic and metal).
---
### 2. How to Group Materials?
* **Classification**: Grouping objects based on common properties like shape, colour, hardness, etc.
* Same material can be used to make different objects, and vice versa.
* **Activity**: Group objects in a picture based on chosen properties.
---
### 3. Choosing the Right Material
* Materials are selected based on their properties and the purpose of the object.
* One object (e.g., a pen) can have parts made from different materials.
* **Activity**: Think of different materials that can be used to make a tumbler. Not all are suitable (e.g., cloth cannot hold water).
---
### 4. Properties of Materials
#### a. Appearance (Lustrous and Non-Lustrous)
* **Lustrous**: Shiny materials (mostly metals like iron, copper, aluminium).
* **Non-Lustrous**: Dull materials (paper, wood, rubber, jute).
#### b. Hardness
* **Hard**: Cannot be easily scratched or compressed (e.g., stone, iron).
* **Soft**: Can be easily compressed or scratched (e.g., sponge, rubber).
#### c. Transparency
* **Transparent**: Can see clearly through (glass, air).
* **Translucent**: Can see but not clearly (butter paper, frosted glass).
* **Opaque**: Cannot see through (wood, metal).
---
### 5. Solubility in Water
* **Soluble**: Materials that dissolve in water (sugar, salt).
* **Insoluble**: Do not dissolve in water (sand, chalk powder, sawdust).
* **Activity**: Mixing different substances in water to observe results.
---
### 6. Mixing Liquids and Gases in Water
* Some liquids like vinegar and honey mix with water, while others like oil do not.
* Some gases like oxygen dissolve in water, which helps aquatic life survive.
---
### 7. Heaviness or Lightness (Mass)
* **Mass**: The quantity of matter in an object.
* Heavier objects have more mass.
* **Activity**: Compare weights of cups filled with different materials (water, sand, pebbles).
---
### 8. Volume and Space
* **Volume**: The space occupied by an object or substance.
* Measured in litres (L) or millilitres (mL).
* **Activity**: Compare the volume of water in different containers.
---
### 9. Understanding Matter
* **Matter**: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
* All materials are forms of matter.
* Units:
* Mass → gram (g), kilogram (kg)
* Volume → litre (L), millilitre (mL), cubic metre (m³)
---
### 10. Summary Points
* Objects are made from one or multiple materials.
* Materials are grouped for convenience and better understanding.
* Properties like hardness, transparency, solubility, and appearance help in classification.
* Matter has mass and volume—this includes solids, liquids, and gases.
---
## New Terms and Simple Definitions
| Term | Definition |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Material | A substance used to make things |
| Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space |
| Mass | The amount of matter in an object |
| Volume | The space that something occupies |
| Lustrous | Shiny in appearance |
| Non-lustrous | Not shiny or dull |
| Hard | Difficult to compress or scratch |
| Soft | Easy to compress or scratch |
| Transparent | Can see through clearly |
| Translucent | Can see through, but not clearly |
| Opaque | Cannot see through |
| Soluble | Able to dissolve in water |
| Insoluble | Not able to dissolve in water |
| Classification | Grouping based on similarities in properties |
---
## Practice Questions
### Easy (3)
1. **What is meant by a material?**
→ A material is a substance used to make an object.
2. **Name any two transparent materials.**
→ Glass, air.
3. **Is chalk soluble in water?**
→ No, chalk is insoluble in water.
---
### Medium (2)
4. **Why is glass used for windows and not wood?**
→ Because glass is transparent and allows light to pass through, while wood is opaque.
5. **What property makes metal suitable for making cooking utensils?**
→ Metal is hard, lustrous, and can conduct heat well.
---
### Difficult (3)
6. **Classify the following materials as soluble or insoluble: sugar, sand, salt, sawdust.**
→ Soluble: sugar, salt; Insoluble: sand, sawdust.
7. **How do you know whether a material is hard or soft?**
→ By trying to press or scratch it—hard ones resist pressure, soft ones are easily compressed.
8. **Give one example each for transparent, translucent and opaque materials.**
→ Transparent: glass; Translucent: butter paper; Opaque: wood.
---
### Very Difficult (2)
9. **A ball made of rubber bounces higher than a cotton ball. Why?**
→ Because rubber has elastic properties and is less soft than cotton, helping it to bounce more.
10. **If a material has mass but does not occupy any space, is it matter? Why or why not?**
→ No, because for something to be matter, it must have both mass and volume.
---
Materials Around Us
Overview
This chapter helps students explore the materials that make up the world around us. It introduces the concept of materials, how objects can be classified based on their properties, and the basic understanding of matter. Through observations, group activities, and experiments, learners understand the significance of materials in daily life and the rationale behind their selection for different uses.
Key Topics Covered
1. Observing Objects Around Us
- Everything around us is made up of materials like paper, wood, glass, metal, plastic, clay, etc.
- Material: Any substance used to make an object.
- Activity: Students list down objects and their materials (e.g., pen - plastic and metal).
2. How to Group Materials?
- Classification: Grouping objects based on common properties like shape, colour, hardness, etc.
- Same material can be used to make different objects, and vice versa.
- Activity: Group objects in a picture based on chosen properties.
3. Choosing the Right Material
- Materials are selected based on their properties and the purpose of the object.
- One object (e.g., a pen) can have parts made from different materials.
- Activity: Think of different materials that can be used to make a tumbler. Not all are suitable (e.g., cloth cannot hold water).
4. Properties of Materials
a. Appearance (Lustrous and Non-Lustrous)
- Lustrous: Shiny materials (mostly metals like iron, copper, aluminium).
- Non-Lustrous: Dull materials (paper, wood, rubber, jute).
b. Hardness
- Hard: Cannot be easily scratched or compressed (e.g., stone, iron).
- Soft: Can be easily compressed or scratched (e.g., sponge, rubber).
c. Transparency
- Transparent: Can see clearly through (glass, air).
- Translucent: Can see but not clearly (butter paper, frosted glass).
- Opaque: Cannot see through (wood, metal).
5. Solubility in Water
- Soluble: Materials that dissolve in water (sugar, salt).
- Insoluble: Do not dissolve in water (sand, chalk powder, sawdust).
- Activity: Mixing different substances in water to observe results.
6. Mixing Liquids and Gases in Water
- Some liquids like vinegar and honey mix with water, while others like oil do not.
- Some gases like oxygen dissolve in water, which helps aquatic life survive.
7. Heaviness or Lightness (Mass)
- Mass: The quantity of matter in an object.
- Heavier objects have more mass.
- Activity: Compare weights of cups filled with different materials (water, sand, pebbles).
8. Volume and Space
- Volume: The space occupied by an object or substance.
- Measured in litres (L) or millilitres (mL).
- Activity: Compare the volume of water in different containers.
9. Understanding Matter
-
Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space.
-
All materials are forms of matter.
-
Units:
- Mass → gram (g), kilogram (kg)
- Volume → litre (L), millilitre (mL), cubic metre (m³)
10. Summary Points
- Objects are made from one or multiple materials.
- Materials are grouped for convenience and better understanding.
- Properties like hardness, transparency, solubility, and appearance help in classification.
- Matter has mass and volume—this includes solids, liquids, and gases.
New Terms and Simple Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Material | A substance used to make things |
| Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space |
| Mass | The amount of matter in an object |
| Volume | The space that something occupies |
| Lustrous | Shiny in appearance |
| Non-lustrous | Not shiny or dull |
| Hard | Difficult to compress or scratch |
| Soft | Easy to compress or scratch |
| Transparent | Can see through clearly |
| Translucent | Can see through, but not clearly |
| Opaque | Cannot see through |
| Soluble | Able to dissolve in water |
| Insoluble | Not able to dissolve in water |
| Classification | Grouping based on similarities in properties |
Practice Questions
Easy (3)
-
What is meant by a material? → A material is a substance used to make an object.
-
Name any two transparent materials. → Glass, air.
-
Is chalk soluble in water? → No, chalk is insoluble in water.
Medium (2)
-
Why is glass used for windows and not wood? → Because glass is transparent and allows light to pass through, while wood is opaque.
-
What property makes metal suitable for making cooking utensils? → Metal is hard, lustrous, and can conduct heat well.
Difficult (3)
-
Classify the following materials as soluble or insoluble: sugar, sand, salt, sawdust. → Soluble: sugar, salt; Insoluble: sand, sawdust.
-
How do you know whether a material is hard or soft? → By trying to press or scratch it—hard ones resist pressure, soft ones are easily compressed.
-
Give one example each for transparent, translucent and opaque materials. → Transparent: glass; Translucent: butter paper; Opaque: wood.
Very Difficult (2)
-
A ball made of rubber bounces higher than a cotton ball. Why? → Because rubber has elastic properties and is less soft than cotton, helping it to bounce more.
-
If a material has mass but does not occupy any space, is it matter? Why or why not? → No, because for something to be matter, it must have both mass and volume.