Synthetic Materials 1
Materials made by humans using chemical processes.
What are the 5 parts of the life cycle?
Obtaining Resources, Production, Distribution, Consumer Use, Disposal
True
How did engineers improve the cell phone?
They made them smaller, able to perform similar to a computer, and can be used to talk and text.
List 3 examples of synthetic materials.
Plastic containers, pens, laptops, our chairs, water bottles, clothes, etc.
Give 2 Reasons why we make synthetic materials.
Easier to obtain, use less resources, less expensive.
What resources are obtained to make materials?
Natural resources and recycled materials.
How can obtaining natural resources affect the availability in the future?
If we use a resource at a rate faster than it can be replenished, that resource will become non-renewable.
What do engineers look at when improving a product?
The cost, safety, energy usage, potential pollution, and how the material needs to work.
How are natural resources related to synthetic materials?
Natural resources are required to create synthetic resources. Without natural resources humans would have nothing.
What is needed to make plastics?
Crude Oil
What goes on in the production stage?
What is a positive in almost all areas of the life cycle of synthetic materials
The creation of synthetic materials creates jobs in all areas of the life cycle minus consumer use.
Why are engineers important to the life cycle?
They can improve the way we obtain resources, how products are made, and how they can be disposed in better way.
Can fruit be a synthetic material?
Yes, they can be grown inorganically with chemicals to last longer or add color.
What are the properties of Kevlar?
Extremely strong, lightweight, bullet-proof.
They can be consumed in the body (Food/medicine). They can be used once (paper plate). Or they can be reused multiple times or by multiple consumers (telephone)
What are negative impacts of producing materials in factories?
Workers are there for long hours with low pay, unsafe working conditions, less protections.
How have engineers improved distribution?
They helped improve product packaging so that it is cheaper and has less impact on the environment.
On average, what percent of plastic is actually recycled? 9%, 21%, 35%, or 50%?
About 9% - all other plastic goes to the landfill or ends up in our environment
What are the 3 societal impacts that influence materials being created?
Needs, Desires, Values
Reuse, Recycle, Discard (thrown away)
What is produced negatively when items are distributed.
Greenhouse gasses and other pollutants.
How do engineers help in the disposal part of the life cycle?
They have developed processes that can be used to recycle natural and synthetic materials.
What is the definition of biodiesel?
Renewable, biodegradable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or cooking grease.