Natural vs Synthetic Materials

What is the primary difference between natural and synthetic materials?

• Natural materials are made in factories, while synthetic materials come from nature.

• Synthetic materials are found in nature, while natural materials are human-made.

• Natural materials come from the Earth, while synthetic materials are created or altered by humans.

• Synthetic materials are always better for the environment than natural materials.

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What is one reason why synthetic materials are often used instead of natural materials?

• They are more environmentally friendly.
• They are more expensive to produce.

• They are easier to recycle and turn into other materials.

• They are stronger and harder to damage over time.

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What is a potential disadvantage of using synthetic materials?

• They don’t break down naturally and can harm the environment.

• They are stronger and last longer than natural fibers.

• They cost less to make than natural materials.

• They keep heat in or out better than natural materials.

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Which of these is an example of a product made of both natural and synthetic materials?

• A notebook made entirely of paper

• A wool sweater made from the fleece of a sheep

• A glass water bottle

• A t-shirt made of a blend of cotton and polyester

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Why might scientists create synthetic alternatives to natural materials?

• Synthetic materials can be designed to have specific properties that natural materials do not have.

• Natural materials are not useful for making products.

• Natural materials always cost more than synthetic ones so it's more beneficial to make a higher profit.

• Synthetic materials are always better for the environment therefore it's important to use them to protect animals.

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Sort the following materials as natural or synthetic.

Groups:

(a) Natural

,

(b) Synthetic

• coal

• styrofoam

• ice cream

• nylon

• diamond

• spandex

• sunlight

• chicken eggs

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True or false? Synthetic materials are completely human-made and do not include any natural resources.

• True

• False

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A company is choosing a material for reusable water bottles. They want a material that is lightweight, strong, and does not break easily. They choose plastic instead of glass.

Which choice best explains why plastic is a good option?

• Plastic is a natural material found in Earth, and it is easy to shape.

• Plastic is a synthetic material, and it is lightweight and less likely to break than glass.

• Plastic is a natural material made from plants, and it is waterproof.

• Plastic is a synthetic material, but it is heavier and more fragile than glass.

A company is designing workout leggings for athletes. The clothing needs to be very stretchy, durable, and able to dry quickly after washing. The design team is deciding between cotton and spandex.

Which conclusion is most accurate?

• Cotton is the better choice because it is synthetic and dries quickly.

• Spandex is the better choice because it is synthetic and designed to be stretchy, durable, and quick-drying.

• Cotton is the better choice because all natural materials are stronger than synthetic materials.

• Spandex is the better choice because it comes directly from plants so that means it is natural.

A class studies how long different materials take to break down in the environment. Their data is shown in the image here.

Based on the data, which human action would MOST reduce long-term environmental impact?

• Increasing the use of plastic bottles because they are lightweight

• Choosing reusable or biodegradable materials instead of single-use plastics

• Using materials that take longer to break down

• Throwing plastic bottles into landfills instead of recycling them