Question bank: Everyday Materials Transformations

Think about the materials we use every day, such as plastic, paper, and metal. For example, when we put a bag of popcorn in the microwave, it changes, becoming puffed up and popping. This happens because the heat from the microwave turns the dried corn into warm popcorn that we eat. Now, I want you to think about another situation: when we put ice in the sun or near a heat source, the ice also changes, melting and turning into water. Based on what you have learned about material changes, explain why it is important to know how these changes happen and give an example of a material transformation that can be important in your lives.

When we play with modeling clay, we can create different shapes and figures. But what happens to the clay if we leave it in the sun for a long time? Or if we put it in the freezer? Also, think about when you leave a fruit out of the fridge for too long. The fruit changes, right? Now, write about how some everyday materials, such as modeling clay and fruits, can change when exposed to different conditions, such as heat, cold, light, and humidity.

During a practical science class, the students observed that an ice cube, when taken out of the freezer and placed on a table, started to shrink and, after some time, ceased to exist. The teacher explained that this happened due to the transfer of heat from the environment to the ice, causing its transformation from solid to liquid, a process known as melting. She decided to create an activity so that the students could better understand melting and other material transformations. Considering the transformations that different materials can undergo when exposed to different conditions, such as heating, cooling, light, and humidity, what is the process by which wet clothes on the clothesline dry in the sun on a hot summer day? Explain the process in detail, mentioning the conditions that favor this transformation and the initial and final state of the material.

Imagine you have a clay palette with various colors. You decide to create a keychain with a heart, so you mold the clay and let it dry in the sun. After a while, you notice that the red clay and the blue clay, which were together in the heart, changed. The red clay became darker and the blue clay lightened. Think about what you learned in science and art classes. Explain why the clay changed color when you molded the heart and let it dry in the sun. Remember to talk about how heating, light, and humidity can affect materials and their colors.

You may have noticed that some foods change their state depending on what we do with them, right? For example, if we put powdered gelatin in hot water and then cool it in the fridge, it turns into a gelatin dessert. Another example is corn, which pops and turns into popcorn when heated. Think of other foods you know that change when heated, cooled, exposed to light, or moisture. Now, I want you to explain why these changes happen in foods and give an example of an everyday material that is not food but also undergoes transformations when heated, cooled, exposed to light, or moisture, and explain what happens to this material.