Read the text and fill in the gaps. Use the words given in the box:
| solid design alloys changed special shape technology properties type smart |
Science and (1) __________ have made amazing developments in the (2) __________ of electronics and machinery using standard materials, which do not have particularly (3) __________ properties (i.e. steel, aluminum, gold). Imagine the range of possibilities, which exist for special materials that have properties scientists can manipulate. Some such materials have the ability to change (4) __________ or size simply by adding a little bit of heat, or to change from a liquid to a (5) __________ almost instantly when near a magnet. These materials are called (6) __________ materials.
Smart materials have one or more properties that can be changed. Most everyday materials have physical (7) __________ , which cannot be significantly altered; for example if oil is heated it will become a little thinner, whereas a smart material with variable viscosity may turn from a fluid which flows easily to a solid. Different smart materials already exist, and are being researched extensively. These include piezoelectric materials, magneto-rheostatic materials, electro-rheostatic materials, and shape memory (8) __________ . Some everyday items are already incorporating smart materials (coffee pots, cars, the International Space Station, eyeglasses) and the number of applications for them is growing steadily.
Each individual (9) __________ of smart material has a different property which can be significantly altered, such as viscosity, volume, and conductivity. The property that can be (10) __________ influences what types of applications the smart material can be used for.