BIRLA PUBLIC SCHOOL – DOHA – QATAR

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023 – 23

WORKSHEET # 1
SCIENCE
CH - 03 – SYNTHETIC FIBRES AND PLASTICS
NAME OF THE STUDENT CLASS/DIV: VIII

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Choose the correct answer for Q1and 2 from the below options
a) Both A and Rare correct and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and Rare correct and R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true and R is false
d) A is false and R is true
1. Assertion (A): Polyester is a synthetic fibre.
Reason (R): Synthetic fibres are polymers of chemical substances.
Option a)
2. Assertion: Synthetic fibres are stronger than natural fibres.
Reason: Synthetic fibres are not obtained from plants and animals.
Option b)
3. Read the following paragraph and answer the questions
Plastic is a polymer that can be recycled, coloured, reused, mould or drawn into
wires or various other shapes. Units of some plastics have linear arrangement
while some plastics are formed by the cross - linked arrangement of their units.
Thus, plastic is used in making toys, suitcase, bags, cabinets, brush, chairs,
tables, and many other countless items. Polythene is one of the most famous
types of plastic, which is used in manufacturing of carry bags. Plastics which
can be easily bent or deform on heating are known as thermoplastic. PVC and
Polythene are the examples of thermoplastics. Plastics which do not get
deformed or softened on heating when mold once, are called thermosetting
plastics. Bakelite and melamine are the examples of thermosetting plastics.

i) The plastics which do not remould again on heating are called:

(a) thermosetting plastics (b) thermoplastics
(c) both of these (d) none of these.
ii) The polyester is made up of
(a) Nylon (b) Rayon (c) Esters (d) Cotton.

iii) Should the handle and the bristles of the toothbrush be made of the
same material? Why?
4. Fabric is made of
(a) steel (b) fibre (c) paper (d) none of these.
5. The small units used in making synthetic fibres are
(a) molecules (b) polymers (c) cells (d) none of these
6. The strongest fibre is called:
(a) rayon (b) nylon (c) acrylic (d) none of these.
7. The first man-made fibre is
(a) nylon (b) polyester (c) rayon (d) cotton.
8. Name the synthetic fibre developed as a cheap alternative to silk.
rayon
9. Which type of fabric burns completely with no residue?
Natural fibres
10. Rana wants to buy shirts for summer. Should he buy cotton shirts or shirts
made from synthetic material? Give reasons for your suggestions.
Cotton because it absorbs sweat.
11. Why is it not advisable to wear clothes made up of synthetic fibres while
working near fire?
Synthetic fibres melt on heating. If they catch fire, they melt and stick to the
body of the person wearing them.
12. What do you mean by 4-R Principle?
The 4R means Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.
(i) Reduce: We should reduce the use of non-biodegradable compounds that
are harmful to us. Example: Instead of using polythene bags we should
give preference to paper bags.
(ii) (ii) Reuse: We should reuse the materials instead of dumping them.
Example: Plastic bags can be reused to make decorative things.
 (iii) (iii) Recycle: Non-biodegradable materials should be subjected to the
recycling process. Example: Plastic materials.
(iv) (iv) Recover: If the waste remains after it is been reused and recycled, we
can use it to generate energy at our waste-energy plant. This is known as
Recovery.
13. Differentiate between Biodegradable & Non-Biodegradable substances.
Biodegradable substances are those that degrades or break down naturally. Non-
biodegradable substances are those that do not degrade easily. Materials like
plants, animals, their waste, paper, fruits, flowers, vegetables are biodegradable
substances, on the other hand, rubber, plastic, chemicals, paint plastic are non-
biodegradable items
14. Explain why storage of Acrylic needs no special care unlike woollen clothes.
a) Cooking pans have plastic handles.
Acrylic is a synthetic fibre. Synthetic fibres are moth and pest resistant
and does not get damaged easily. It also resists wrinkles and more
durable than wool.
b) Electric wires have a plastic covering.
Plastic is an insulator of heat.
15. a. Name any two natural polymers: Cotton, Jute
b. Name any two synthetic polymers: Rayon, Nylon
c. Name the plastic used for making water pipes : PVC

16. ‘Manufacturing synthetic fibres is actually helping conservation of forests’.

Comment.
Manufacturing synthetic fibres is actually helping conservation of forests.
Synthetic fibres are manmade fibres and they are manufactured from
 petrochemicals. If we use synthetic fibres, we do not require to cut trees and
hence helps in conservation of forest.
17. a) Rohit took with him some nylon ropes, when he was going for rock
climbing. Can you tell why he selected nylon ropes instead of ropes made of
cotton or jute?
Rope made of nylon is stronger than the ropes made of jute or cotton. Even,
nylon ropes are stronger than the steel rope of the same thickness.

b) A lady went to the market to buy a blanket. The shopkeeper showed her
blankets made of acrylic fibres as well as made of wool. She preferred to buy an
acrylic blanket. Can you guess why?

Acrylic blankets are cheap, comfortable, light and also available in a wide range of
colours. It is also washable unlike blankets made of wool.

c) PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic and is used for making toys,

chappals, etc. Bakelite is a thermosetting plastic and is used for making electrical
switches, handles of various utensils, etc. Can you write the major difference
between these two types of plastics?

THERMOPLASTICS

• Plastics which melt on heating and can be moulded again and again into
different shapes.
• They become soft on heating.
• They are made of linear polymers.
• They can be recycled.
• Examples - Polythene, PVC, nylon
THERMOSETTING PLASTICS

• Plastics which do not melt on heating and cannot be moulded into other shapes.
• They do not become soft on heating.
• They are made of cross - linked polymers.
• They cannot be recycled.
• Example - Bakelite, melamine.
18. Can coal petroleum and natural gas prepared in the laboratory from dead and
decaying matter? Explain

No, This is a very slow process and conditions for their formation cannot be
created in the laboratory.

19. How can you distinguish natural and synthetic fibres by burning them?
Natural fibres when ignited on contact with flames; burns quickly and leaves a
residue whereas synthetic fibres melt, and tend to shrink away from the flame
leaving a plastic bead.
20. Discuss the problems with plastics despite being versatile material.
Plastics are non-biodegradable materials. It will take several years to
decompose. So use of plastics is harmful for our environment. While burning it
releases poisonous gases to the atmosphere. Plastic bags thrown into the
garbage heaps are swallowed by animals and choke their respiratory system.
Therefore, we should avoid plastics as far as possible

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