Ceramics are non-metallic, inorganic materials that are typically made from clay and then hardened by heat. They are known for their strength, hardness, and ability to withstand high temperatures, making them widely used in various applications.
Types of Ceramics
There are several types of ceramics, including:
Traditional Ceramics: These are made from clay, silica, and other natural materials. Examples include pottery, porcelain, and bricks.
Advanced Ceramics: These are engineered ceramics with enhanced properties, such as alumina, zirconia, and silicon carbide. They are used in aerospace, electronics, and medical devices.
Glass: While not always considered a ceramic, glass is also an inorganic material with similar properties.
Properties of Ceramics
Some key properties of ceramics include:
Hardness: Ceramics are extremely hard and resistant to scratching.
Brittleness: They are often brittle and can fracture under high stress, unlike metals which are ductile.
The Living Environment: Students understand that cells are the basic unit of life, that all life as we know it has evolved through genetic transfer and natural selection to create a great diversity of organisms, and that these organisms create interdependent webs through which matter and energy flow. Students understand similarities and differences between humans and other organisms and the interconnections of these interdependent webs.
Biodiversity: Students compare living things based on their behaviors, external features, and environmental needs.
Describe how living things can be sorted in many ways, depending on which features or behaviors are used to sort them, and apply this understanding to sort living things.