Material properties and strong structures
Every material behaves differently under load. Understanding those behaviours lets designers choose the right material and shape for the job.
Part of your national curriculum
- Technical knowledge: Understand and use the properties of materials and the performance of structural elements to achieve functioning solutions
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand and use the properties of materials and the performance of structural elements to achieve functioning solutions
Key learning points
- • Properties of materials
- • Structural elements
- • Choosing for a function
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Material properties and strong structures
Every material behaves differently under load. Understanding those behaviours lets designers choose the right material and shape for the job.
In a nutshell
Understand and use the properties of materials and the performance of structural elements to achieve functioning solutions
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Properties of materials
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Properties of materials
Materials can be strong in tension (resisting stretching), compression (resisting squashing), or both. Steel cables handle tension well; concrete handles compression well. Other properties matter too, such as flexibility, hardness and how a material reacts to moisture or heat.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Structural elements
Beams resist bending, columns resist compression, and ties resist tension. Triangulated frames, like those in bridges and roof trusses, spread forces efficiently because triangles cannot change shape without a member bending or breaking.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Choosing for a function
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Choosing for a function
A functioning solution matches material and structure to the forces involved — a phone case needs impact resistance, while a shelf bracket needs resistance to bending under load. Testing prototypes against expected forces checks the choice was right.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ can be strong in tension (resisting stretching), compression (resisting squashing), or both.
Other ____ matter too, such as flexibility, hardness and how a material reacts to moisture or heat.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Which force does a steel cable resist well?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Material properties and strong structures
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which force does a steel cable resist well?
2. Why are triangles used in structures such as bridges?
3. What does a column mainly resist?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Understand and use the properties of materials and the performance of structural elements to achieve functioning solutions