Page 197 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Plastic SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Atoms p.34
▸ ▸ Carbon cycle p.49
Plastic is a useful material that we make, but it can also be ▸ ▸ Electricity p.87
found naturally. It can be colored and molded into shapes ▸ ▸ Gases p.117
without breaking. It is waterproof, so it can be used for ▸ ▸ Liquids p.148

packaging and to carry liquid. It’s also strong enough to ▸ ▸ Materials p.157
make rope. ▸ ▸ Recycling p.205

Plastic containers
Plastic everywhere are waterproof
to carry liquids.
We use plastic to make Useful plastic
many everyday objects, Plastic is a useful
including toys, glue, cars, material because of how
bags, computers, tents, it behaves. For example,
and clothes like fleeces and Liquid plastic Plastic can be it doesn’t let electricity
raincoats. For most items, can be poured see-through, through, and is strong
the plastic is heated to into interesting so we know and long-lasting.
what’s inside.
molds.
become liquid, then poured
into molds to set.
Electric cable

Tough and
hard-to-break
plastic is
useful in toys.
Insulation
Plastic is an insulator, which
means electricity and heat
can’t flow through it. It keeps
electricity inside cables.

Laboratory
containers

Hard to break
Plastic containers are harder
Smooth plastic is to break than glass or pottery
used for things we Plastic rope is Plastic lenses ones. They are also easier to
need to hold on to. flexible and strong. in glasses are make and safer to use.
harder to break
than glass.
25 Making plastic Plastic

trees, insects, animal horns, and milk.
plastic bottles can be Natural plastic is found in plants, bags
Artificial plastic is made from oil, coal,
recycled to make one and natural gas found underground.
polyester fleece. All plastic contains an element
called carbon. Long-lasting
Plastic pellets Plastic lasts a long time. It can
build up in the environment,
so we turn it into new plastic
195 by recycling it.

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