Wood Properties Type: Spruce (softwood) Wood Pros+Cons Strengths: Cheap, lightweight, moderately strong in compression and tension

Weaknesses: Rots, swells and burns easily Wood Applications Bridges, houses, two- to three-story buildings, roller coasters Example: Son of Beast -- Cincinnati, Ohio

Wood is cheap, lightweight and moderately strong in compression and tension. On the other hand it can rot, swell and burn easily. It is widely used in bridges, houses, two to three story buildings and rollercoasters

Plastic Properties Type: High-strength plastic fabric Ingredients: Long chains of molecules Plastic Pros+Cons Strengths: Flexible, lightweight, long-lasting, strong in compression and tension Weaknesses: Expensive Plastic Applications Umbrellas, inflatable roofs over sports arenas Example: Georgia Dome -- Atlanta, Georgia

Plastic is made up of long chains of molecules. It is flexible, lightweight, long-lasting and strong in compression and tension. Despite this it is expensive. It is used for umbrellas and inflatable roofs over sports arenas, for example in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Aluminum Properties Type: Aluminum alloy Ingredients: Aluminum with magnesium & copper Aluminum Pros+Cons Strengths: Lightweight, doesn't rust, strong in compression and tension Weaknesses: Expensive Aluminum Applications Airplane wings, boats, cars, skyscraper "skin" Example: Petronas Towers -- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aluminium is an alloy whose ingredients are aluminium, magnesium and copper. It is a lightweight material which does not rust and is strong in compression and tension. However it is very expensive. It is mostly used for airplane wings, boats, cars and skyscraper skin as in the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

Brick Properties Type: Ordinary brick Ingredients: Burned clay Brick Pros+Cons Strengths: Cheap, strong in compression Weaknesses: Heavy, weak in tension Brick Applications Walls of early skyscrapers and tunnels, domes Example: Original Thames Tunnel -- London, England

Bricks are made of burned clay. They are cheap and strong in compression. On the other hand they are heavy and weak in tension. They were used to make the walls of early skyscrapers, tunnels and domes.