Summary
Surveys the world of engineered materials — natural vs. synthetic, metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites — and explains how materials scientists design new substances with specific properties for specific jobs.
Viewer safety
All ages
Common Sense Media — not yet ratedIMDb Parents Guide — not yet rated
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
- What is the difference between a natural and a synthetic material? Give one example of each.
- Why do engineers sometimes need to invent a new material rather than use an existing one?
- How is a composite material different from a pure material? Give an example.
- What properties would you need in a material for making a spacecraft heat shield?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: natural, synthetic, composite, ceramic, polymer, material scientist.
Try it: Choose one everyday object (helmet, running shoe, phone case). Research what material it is made from, what property makes that material ideal, and whether a natural or synthetic substitute exists.