Matter & Materials is one of 9 topics in the Grade 10 Technical Sciences CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Which of the following is a typical property of METALS?
Good conductor of heat and electricity
Poor conductor of heat and electricity
Always brittle
Never magnetic
Answer: Good conductor of heat and electricity — Metals are typically good conductors of both heat and electricity, along with being malleable or ductile and having high melting/boiling points.
Easy
2. Which of the following materials is classified as an electrical insulator?
Rubber
Copper
Silicon
Iron
Answer: Rubber — Rubber is an electrical insulator, not allowing electric current to flow easily, which is why it is used to coat electrical wires.
Medium
3. Give ONE word for a material, such as silicon, that has mainly non-metallic properties but occupies an intermediate position on the periodic table between metals and non-metals.
Answer: metalloid — A metalloid, such as silicon or germanium, has mainly non-metallic properties, but occupies an intermediate position on the periodic table and often shows partial conductive properties.
